Suarez de Cauca, hometown of Francia Marquez, candidate for the vice-presidency of Colombia on behalf of the coalition "Pacto Historico", expects a large turnout of voters this Sunday, June 19, when the next Colombian government, which will be in charge for at least 4 years, will be defined.
Since 8:00 a.m., the opening time of the polls, people from the region have traveled from remote places, with more than four hours of travel to vote.
In the midst of an atmosphere full of expectation on the part of voters who had never participated in any election due to, in their words, "lack of representation", they will now do so under the Petro-Márquez formula.
Francia, who is of Afro-Colombian origin, is expected to arrive in the town where she was born to exercise her vote.
According to Laura Carlsen, a reporter in the area who is part of a group of journalists covering the second round of elections in Colombia, sponsored by the organization Global Exchange in collaboration with Peninsula 360 Press, highlighted the enthusiasm of the people to go to the polls and exercise their right to vote, which has been poured out across France.
"A lot of people, some come from the trails in the mountains around this town walking or going down more than four hours to vote," he noted.
He noted that, despite the financial and other costs that people have to face to get to the polls, there is great euphoria and excitement to finally see themselves represented on the ballot and to seek real change for the black communities that have suffered so much under other governments.
"It is noticeable that they are motivated and a large vote is expected precisely for the Petro-Márquez formula in these elections. Many people we have interviewed, especially in the Afro-Colombian population, have expressed that it is the first time in history that they feel represented by a candidate or a candidate in this case for the presidency or vice presidency," he said.
In these historic elections, said Carlsen, Francia Márquez not only represents the figure of an Afro-Colombian woman, but also has a history of struggle with which many of the people who will vote this Sunday against megaprojects, displacement, violence and hunger in the region identify.
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