In surprise Colombia election result, leftist and businessman go to second round

Reuters
·1 min read
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BOGOTA (Reuters) - Colombian leftist Gustavo Petro came top during the first round of the Andean country's presidential election on Sunday and will face a surprise contender - businessman Rodolfo Hernandez - in a second round in June.

Petro, a former member of the M-19 guerrilla movement who has vowed profound economic and social change, took 40.4% of votes, national registry office tallies showed, while Hernandez, who made late gains against predicted second round candidate Federico Gutierrez, won 27.9%.

A second round of voting will take place on June 19.

(Reporting by Julia Symmes Cobb; editing by Grant McCool)