Conservative newcomer Ivan Duque wins Colombia's presidential election
Bogota, June 18 : Conservative political newcomer Ivan Duque has been elected President of Colombia, a media report said on Monday.
Duque, 41, garnered 10.3 million votes or about 53.98 per cent of the ballot on Sunday, while his rival Gustavo Petro secured 8 million or about 41.81 per cent, reports Efe news.
"With humility and with honour I want to tell the Colombian people that I will give all my energies to unite our country: no more divisions, let's think of a country with all and for all," Duque said in a speech to his supporters here on Sunday night after acknowledging the elections' results.
He added that for him, "there are no defeated citizens" because he wants to be the President of all Colombians: those who voted for him, those who did not and those who opted for a blank vote.
Duque, who is due to take office on August 2 and whose term would last until August 2, 2022, further highlighted the need for Colombia to "unite" and "build" the country to prevent the future of all Colombians from getting "destroyed".
The orthodox economist, who is supported by former President Alvaro Uribe, has said he will overhaul the 2016 agreement which gave the rebels places in Congress, reports the BBC.
He has also said that he will revisit crimes allegedly committed by the rebels during the brutal five-decade conflict with the government.
Incumbent President Juan Manuel Santos telephoned Duque to congratulate him on his victory.
"I called Ivan Duque to congratulate him and wish him the best of luck. I offered the government's full cooperation to ensure an orderly and calm transition," Santos tweeted.
Meanwhile, Petro, a former Bogota mayor, accepted defeat on Sunday evening. "Eight million free Colombians taking a stand. There is no defeat here. For now we won't be the government," he tweeted.
Petro's campaign featured promises about creating a more equal society and ensuring people have access to health and education.
He also pledged to take on political elites and redistribute land to the poor.
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HC verdict: No question of CM's resignation, says Deputy CM DK Shivakumar
Bengaluru(PTI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Tuesday said there is no question of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah resigning over the High Court dismissing his petition challenging Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot's approval for investigation against him in a site allotment case.
He alleged that there was a "big conspiracy" against the Chief Minister, as he asserted that the latter has done no wrong in the issue and will come out clean.
When questioned about BJP demanding CM's resignation over the High Court's order, Shivakumar said: "There is no question, the CM has not done anything wrong. He is not involved in any scam. It is a political conspiracy by the BJP against all opposition leaders in the country, this is what is going on."
Shivakumar, who is also the state Congress President, said he and his party stand in support of the Chief Minister, who is doing a good job for the party and the state.
He was reacting to High Court on Tuesday dismissing Siddaramaiah's petition challenging Governor's approval for investigation against him in the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) site allotment case.
"(There is a) big conspiracy against our Chief Minister, like how the BJP had hatched a big conspiracy against me by filing a case and sending me to jail. Because of God's grace I came out. The case in which I went to jail was dismissed. Similarly they have hatched a conspiracy against the Chief Minister and his family," Shivakumar said.
Speaking to reporters as he emerged from an event, where he shared the stage with Siddaramaiah here, he said: "He (Siddaramaiah) will come out clean. Let any investigation be ordered or do anything. According to me, he has done no wrong...we are with the Chief Minister."
The BJP is unable to digest the (welfare) programmes given by Siddaramaiah to the state, Shivakumar said. "There is a big conspiracy."
Asked if the court's order is a setback to the Chief Minister and the government, he said, "I need to see the order...what setback? You are saying that the court has said an investigation has to happen, I need to see."
