FRANCIA Marquez has been elected Colombia’s first Black woman vice president Francia Marquez following Gustavo Petro’s victory in Sunday’s presidential election.
Marquez is Petro’s running mate.
Marquez and Petro won 50.4 per cent of the vote to win the election.
In her victory speech in a broadcast from Bogota, Frances Marquez thanked supporters from across Colombia for assisting her and Petro’s campaign.
“After 214 years we have achieved a government of the people, a popular government, a government of people with calloused hands … the government of the nobodies of Colombia,” she said.
Marquez added that as Vice President inequality will be reduced.
“This will be a government for those with calluses on their hands. We are here to promote social justice and to help women eradicate the patriarchy,” she said.
According to Reuters, Marquez will lead “a new equality ministry”.
Serving as Petro’s vice president, Marquez will be at the forefront to build a ministry on her ideas of improving women’s rights and helping the poor access health and education.
Senior Consultant at Forensic Technologies International (FTI) Consulting Daniela Cuellar told Reuters that Marquez’s political campaign is shaped by demands for change and socio-environmental concerns.
“The political popularity of Francia Marquez was part of a trend in Colombia where the population is looking for a change and where socio-environmental issues are becoming more and more relevant,” she said.
Marquez is an environmental activist who has received the prestigious Goldman Environmental Prize in 2018.
