Headlines from the last seven days
1 COLOMBIA
Former guerrilla fighter wins presidential election
A former guerrilla fighter, Gustavo Petro, was elected as president, making him Colombia’s first leftist head of state.
Petro beat Rodolfo Hernández, a gaffe-prone former mayor of Bucaramanga and business mogul, with 50.47% of the vote in a runoff election last Sunday and will take office in July amid a host of challenges, not least of which is the deepening discontent over inequality and rising cost of living. Hernández gained 47.27%, with almost all ballots counted, according to results released by election authorities.
Petro’s election marks a tidal shift for Colombia, the South American country that has never before had a leftist president, and follows similar victories for the left in Peru, Chile and Honduras.
“Today is a party for the people,” tweeted the victorious candidate last Sunday night after results came in.
During his victory speech, Petro issued a call for unity and extended an olive branch to some of his harshest critics, saying all members of the opposition will be welcomed at the presidential palace “to discuss the problems of Colombia”.
2 FRANCE
Macron’s centrists lose majority in parliament
Emmanuel Macron’s centrist grouping has lost its absolute majority in parliament, amid gains by a new left alliance and a historic surge by the far right in legislative elections.
After five years of
