(ANSA) - BOGOTÀ, MAR 23 - Gustavo Petro, candidate of the left for the presidential elections scheduled in Colombia on May 29, today revealed that in the race for the highest position of the state he will be accompanied as deputy by Francia Márquez, an afro-descendant social activist who in the primary of 13 March, surprising everyone, over 785,000 votes.
In the race for the presidential candidacy for the Pacto Historico coalition, Márquez with his 785,215 votes was second only to Petro, the most voted of all candidates of all parties, who collected 4,495,831 votes.
In his first reaction, Márquez, who is a lawyer and is 40, stated among other things that he appreciates "very much that this recognition comes at a transcendental moment for the country and for the world".
"I accept this challenge - he continued - on behalf of all the women who have faced wars, exclusions, violence and inequalities, I accept this commitment with the certainty that we will make this effort with love and enthusiasm, but also with the responsibility that requires the enormous task of making Colombia a fairer country ".
(HANDLE).