Congratulations to the new President and Vice President of Colombia

Sunday 7th of August Gustavo Petro and Francia Márquez were inaugurated as President and Vice President of Colombia. We congratulate them both!

It’s an especially historic victory for Ms. Márquez who is the first afro-Colombian Vice President in the country’s history. The victory is also close to NPA’s heart, given that Francia Márquez comes from PCN (Proceso de Comunidades Negras), one of our partners in Colombia.

Francia Márquez grew up in the largely marginalized Cauca province, plagued by violence and poverty. Throughout her career she has worked effortlessly to shore up land rights and address inequality and her opposition to gold mining in her home municipality of Suarez saw her receive the prestigious Goldman Environmental Prize in 2018.

Having Black women and men occupying positions of power in Colombia is an act of racial justice and an act of justice for the Afro-descendant people in the country. We therefore hope and send our well-wishing’s to the newly elected president and vice president for a safer and more equal future in Colombia.