Colombia’s presidential election appears headed to a runoff as front-runner Gustavo Petro is well short of the 50% needed to win in a first round.
With about 54% of votes counted, Petro, a leftist former guerrilla and mayor of Bogota, has 41%. Outsider business magnate Rodolfo Hernandez who campaigned on an anti-graft platform is second with 28% while conservative politician Federico Gutierrez has 24%.
A runoff would be held on June 19 with the winner taking office on Aug. 7.
