By Constanza Mazzotti and Pamela Cruz
Francia Márquez, the virtual vice president of Colombia, gave her first speech this Sunday, June 19, alongside the also virtual president Gustavo Petro, in which she recalled that, after 214 years of history, the country will finally have a government of and for the people.
"Brothers and sisters, we have made a very important step forward. After 214 years, we have achieved a government of the people, a popular government, of the people with calloused hands, the government of the common people, of the nobodies of Colombia. Brothers and sisters, we are going to reconcile this nation," said Márquez, visibly moved by the triumph of the Historic Pact coalition.
At around 7:33 p.m., Francia, the virtual first Afro-Colombian vice president, took to the stage at the Movistar Arena in Bogotá to warn that the new government, which will come into force on August 7, will go for peace "in a determined manner, without fear, with love and joy."
"Let's go for dignity and social justice. Let's women eradicate patriarchy in our country. Let's go for the rights of the diverse LGBTIQ+ community, let's go for the rights of our mother earth... to take care of biodiversity, and let's go together to eradicate structural racism," Márquez stressed.
France thanked all the Colombian people who voted for the Petro-Márquez duo in this election.
«I want to thank all the Colombians who gave their lives for this moment, for all our brothers and sisters, social leaders who were sadly murdered in this country; the youth who have been murdered and disappeared; the women who have been violated and disappeared, and all of them who are supporting us from somewhere in this historic moment for Colombia.»
"We thank you for having paved the way, thank you for having planted the seed of resistance and hope," he said.
Francia Márquez, an Afro-descendant woman and now virtual vice president of Colombia, also thanked the teachers, the workers of the town, the indigenous people and the peasants for having remained "firm" in the electoral process.
With 100 percent of the tables counted, the Historic Pact of Gustavo Petro and Francia Márquez managed to obtain 50.44 percent of all votes cast in the second round of presidential elections in Colombia, which meant a total of 11 million 281 thousand 013 ballots in their favor.
The duo's speech at the Movistar Arena in Bogotá was attended by supporters of the duo, who cheered and applauded to celebrate what they now consider to be the greatest democratic victory in the country.
This note was produced with the support of a group of journalists covering the first round elections in Colombia, sponsored by the organization Global Exchange in collaboration with Peninsula 360 Press.
You may be interested in: Rodolfo Hernández accepts defeat in Colombian electoral race
