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France 24
France 24
World

Francia Marquez: From maid to Colombia’s first Black vice president

Human rights activist Francia Marquez, a vice-presidential candidate in Colombia, is pictured on March 25, 2022. © Juan Barreto, AFP

When Colombians elected their first leftist president ever on Sunday, they also elected the country’s first Black vice president: Francia Marquez, a single mother who worked as a maid before challenging international mining interests as a fiery environmentalist. Her victory marks a turning point in a country plagued by social inequalities and historically governed by conservative elites.

This is an updated version of a profile published on May 25, 2022.

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