Gustavo Petro's speech: "We are going to develop capitalism in Colombia. Not because we love it"

Petro celebrates his victory: "Change consists of leaving hate behind" 3:21

(CNN Spanish) -- 

President-elect Gustavo Petro gave his victory speech after winning in the second round and pointed out three axes of his Government: peace, social justice and environmental justice.

Petro emphasized that he will promote regional dialogues "to build the reforms that Colombia needs to be able to live together in peace."

The next president said that he seeks a "great national agreement."

In addition, he made a call for dialogue with his opponents and assured that he seeks democratic capitalism.

Petro said his main objective is to bring Colombia to peace.

"It means that the 10 million or so voters of Rodolfo Hernández are welcome in this government," he said.

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"Rodolfo Hernández, who had an interesting campaign, can talk to us whenever he wants. We are not going to use power to destroy the opponent."

"That opposition under whatever leadership they want — be it Uribe's, Federico's, or Rodolfo's — will always be welcome in the Palacio de Nariño to discuss Colombia's problems."

"In this government that is beginning there will never be political or legal persecution, there will only be respect and dialogue," Petro said in his speech.

a historic change

Gustavo Petro, the first leftist president of Colombia, said that a new story is beginning for Colombia, Latin America and the world.

"Undoubtedly here what has happened today with these 11 million voters is a change."

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"Here what is coming is a real change, a real change. In this we compromise existence, life itself. We are not going to betray that electorate, which has shouted at the country, at history, is that from today Colombia changes, Colombia is another".

"A real change that leads us to some of the approaches that we had made in these public squares: the politics of love."

Petro said that it is not "a change to take revenge, it is not a change to build more hatred" and pointed out that one of the goals is "to leave sectarianism behind."

"The elections showed two Colombias, close in terms of votes. We want Colombia in the midst of its diversity to be one Colombia, not two Colombias."

"We are part of a resistance that is already five centuries old. We are the sum of the resistances of Colombia, of rebellions," Petro said in the speech.

Petro pointed out that his victory is due to the diversity of those who supported him "It is not strange that in those 11 million votes that have given us victory, the majority are from young people and women."

Petro said that some youthful and feminine tides decided today to take over the polls.

The candidate of the Historical Pact said that he wants the country to comply with the "Living Constitution" in fullness of the rights of the people.

"That the family can be built more united, more powerful, because their rights can be fulfilled."

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The call to the prosecutor and the attorney

Petro made reference in his speech to several of the campaign issues in his speech.

Regarding those detained in the protests of recent years, he asked the "attorney general of the nation to free our youth."

"How many people are in prison right now. How many young people in handcuffs, treated like bandits, simply because they had hope, because they had love."

He also asked the attorney general to "restore popularly elected mayors to their posts."

The mayor of Medellín, Daniel Quintero, was suspended for public statements considered explicit support for Petro.

In Colombia, mayors and governors are prohibited from campaigning for other officials while in office.

Petro seeks "forms of democratic capitalism"

Petro said that during the campaign they said they were going to expropriate or destroy private property.

"We are going to develop capitalism in Colombia. Not because we adore it. But because we must first overcome pre-modernity in Colombia, feudalism, the new slavery."

The first part of that statement caused a notorious reaction from those attending Petro's speech.

His model, he said, is to build a "democracy based on ideological and economic pluralism."

The great national agreement, central in Petro's speech

"The great agreement is to build peace and peace is nothing more than the guarantee of the rights of the people."

"Peace is that Colombian society has opportunities. That someone like me can be president or someone like France can be vice president."

"For weapons to stop being used, for weapons to stop existing outside of the Colombian state. It's not killing each other, it's loving each other."

Elections ColombiaGustavo Petro