Conservative Ivan Duque poised to be Colombia's new president [View all]

Source: WSVN

Colombia election results show Iván Duque, the young conservative protégé of a powerful former president, is poised to become the country’s next president.

Duque holds a 12-point lead over leftist contender Gustavo Petro with nearly 97 percent of voting centers reporting in a preliminary count.

The 41-year-old Duque would take charge of the South American nation from outgoing President Juan Manuel Santos as it implements a still fragile peace accord after more than five decades of armed conflict. Duque soared in the polls as he promised to roll back parts of the historic accord with leftist rebels but not “shred it to pieces.”

Duque gained his front-runner status thanks in large part to support from Álvaro Uribe, the former president who is both widely admired and detested in Colombia.

Read more: https://wsvn.com/news/politics/conservative-ivan-duque-poised-to-be-colombias-new-president/

Colombia's President-elect Iván Duque (right) and his political mentor, former conservative President - and DIA-designated kingpin - Álvaro Uribe.

A defeat for President Santos' peace process?