International News
Santos triumphs in presidential runoff
Posted on: Tue June 22, 2010
International Highlights
BOGOTA: Conservative ex-defence minister Juan Manuel Santos has handily won Colombia s presidential runoff election with a whopping 69.2 per cent of the vote, trouncing his Green Party rival, officials said.
Santos, who will succeed popular two-term President Alvaro Uribe, brought in the lion s share of Sunday s votes over Green Party rival Antanas Mockus, a former Bogota mayor who drew 27.4 per cent of the vote, the National Electoral Board said, with 53.9 per cent of votes counted.
Once again, thank you, God. Thank you Colombia, thanks for the trust that nine million Colombians have placed in us, Santos, 58, told thousands of supporters alongside his running mate Angelino Garzon, in El Campin stadium after his win was announced.
It is now time for unity in Colombia, Santos added. His victory however could ring hollow to many of Colombia s disaffected, who will not likely see it as an unquestionable mandate. Turnout was estimated at about 12 million of almost 30 million registered voters, officials said.
Balloting was marred by some violent clashes around the South American nation, the staunchest US ally in the region, which left 17 people dead, including 11 members of the country s security forces and six rebels.
The light turnout was blamed on everything from rainy weather to World Cup fever that kept many at home following the football matches on TV and radio. But anger at the system is a constant particularly among millions of the poor in a country where 46 per cent of the population lives below the poverty line.
Courtesy : The News