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Colombia election: Polls close in first presidential vote since Farc deal | |
(about 7 hours later) | |
Colombians have voted in the first presidential election since the government signed a peace agreement with the Farc rebel group in 2016. | |
Incumbent Juan Manuel Santos cannot stand again, after serving two terms. | Incumbent Juan Manuel Santos cannot stand again, after serving two terms. |
The main contenders are conservative Ivan Duque, who has opposed the peace deal, and left-winger Gustavo Petro, an ex-guerrilla and former Bogota mayor. | The main contenders are conservative Ivan Duque, who has opposed the peace deal, and left-winger Gustavo Petro, an ex-guerrilla and former Bogota mayor. |
Neither is expected to win 50% of the vote on Sunday, in which case they will face each other in a run-off in June. | |
Polls closed at 16:00 local time (21:00 GMT) and counting got under way. | |
Casting his vote in the capital Bogota, President Santos praised the peaceful atmosphere in which the election was taking place. | |
"So far not a single voting station has had to be moved for security reasons," he said in a televised address. | |
"It's been many decades since that has happened. In other words, these elections are going to be the most secure, the calmest." | |
President Santos, a centre-right politician, sought to end the decades-long conflict with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the country's main guerrilla group. | President Santos, a centre-right politician, sought to end the decades-long conflict with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the country's main guerrilla group. |
The peace deal he signed in 2016 was reached after years of negotiations. But it was regarded as too lenient by many voters and rejected in a referendum. | The peace deal he signed in 2016 was reached after years of negotiations. But it was regarded as too lenient by many voters and rejected in a referendum. |
A revised accord was approved by Congress later that year. | A revised accord was approved by Congress later that year. |
Mr Duque has promised to reverse some of the provisions of the deal if he becomes president. | |
He is an ally of former President Alvaro Uribe, who led the campaign against the agreement. | He is an ally of former President Alvaro Uribe, who led the campaign against the agreement. |
Mr Petro, who backs the deal, would be Colombia's first-ever left-wing president if he is elected. | Mr Petro, who backs the deal, would be Colombia's first-ever left-wing president if he is elected. |
In the 1980s he was a member of the M-19 rebel group, which disbanded itself in 1990 to become a political party. | In the 1980s he was a member of the M-19 rebel group, which disbanded itself in 1990 to become a political party. |
Correspondents say that with the main civil conflict over, voters are much more worried about economic issues. | Correspondents say that with the main civil conflict over, voters are much more worried about economic issues. |
The candidates have mainly campaigned on issues such as inequality, unemployment, housing and corruption. | The candidates have mainly campaigned on issues such as inequality, unemployment, housing and corruption. |
Also standing in the election are: | Also standing in the election are: |
About 100 international observers are monitoring the elections. | About 100 international observers are monitoring the elections. |