The president of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, this Sunday called on his compatriots to vote thinking about "the general interest" after he himself cast his vote in the elections for the Senate and Chamber of Representatives for the 2026-2030 period. "I have just voted for the Senate and the Chamber," the head of state stated. Petro voted at the National Capitol, where he was accompanied by his wife Verónica Alcocer and their daughters Sofía and Antonella. According to Petro, who voted again at the Capitol after having done so in recent years at a school in southern Bogotá, for Colombia "it is fundamental that whoever makes the law does so, as the Constitution orders, for the general interest, that is, for the people of Colombia." "And in that measure, I invite all citizens to choose who, man or woman, what party can represent the general interest and the interest of the voter in the legislative elections," he added. In addition to electing new members of the Senate and Chamber, Colombians also have the option to vote in three consultations from the center, left, and right to choose candidates for the upcoming presidential elections on May 31. However, Petro did not vote in these consultations, as he had warned days ago, because the National Electoral Council (CNE) excluded Senator Iván Cepeda, a candidate from his party, the Historic Pact, from the process, arguing that the politician had already participated in another internal primary of that force and cannot compete in two. The left-wing consultation, called 'Front for Life', finally included five candidates, and polls indicate that the favorites are Daniel Quintero, former mayor of Medellín, and former Senator Roy Barreras, both recent arrivals to the left. Cepeda's absence in today's consultation does not prevent the candidate from running directly in the presidential elections on May 31, for which he is the clear favorite, according to polls. "Therefore, I invite all other Colombians to follow this path," the head of state expressed in a brief statement after voting.
