Live
Audio Only
The leader of the FARC Colombian party, Rodrigo Londoño, known in his guerrilla days as "Timochenko", voted in the presidential elections for the first time in his life Sunday, and hoped that the elections will be a day of reconciliation.
RELATED:
Colombia: Presidential Candidates Spar Over Peace, Electoral Fraud, Corruption in Final Debate
"We are here living a very special moment, the invitation is to all the world to exercise this right [to vote] and let's make this day a day of reconciliation among all Colombians," the leader of the Revolutionary Alternative Force of the Common party told the press.
Londoño admitted he felt nervous in his first presidential vote, because he feared he would make a mistake and mark the blank option in the electoral cardboard.
Asked if he fears there will be a new president who would alter the peace agreement, he said that "any change brings fear," but added that "there must be expectations."
"I think that Colombia wants to travel on the path of peace and reconciliation to build peace, I believe that the majority is for that and I am sure that we will express it," concluded Londoño.
#ColombiaDecides | The president of the @FARC_EPueblo, @TimoFARC, exercises his vote for the first time in the presidential elections #ColombiaDecide pic.twitter.com/A6b1LwcgEl
— teleSUR English (@telesurenglish) May 27, 2018
Some 36 million Colombians are eligible to vote, according to a March 2018 electoral census. However, just below half or an estimated 15 million to 16 million voters are expected to turn out.
The favorite candidates in the race are right-wing nominee Ivan Duque and leftist Bogota ex-Mayor Gustavo Petro. According to El Pais, Duque is in the lead with 37 percent, approximately 10 points ahead of Petro (27 percent).
Colombians have largely stated that education, health, unemployment and inequality are major issues as they head to the polls to select a new head of state. Peace agreements with the FARC or the National Liberation Army (ELN), according to preliminary polls, are of lesser importance to voters.
Newsletter
