​Colombian presidential candidate Gustavo Petro with his vice presidential running-mate Francia Márquez ​​​​

Bogota, May 30 (RHC)-- Presidential candidate Gustavo Petro has convincingly won the first round with 40.32% of the vote in Colombia's election on Sunday.    His closest rival, right-wing populist candidate Rodolfo Hernandez, garnered 28.15% with 99.96% of the votes counted.  The election now moves on to a runoff between the two leading candidates, which will be held on June 19th.  

Addressing a huge crowd gathered in Bogota on Sunday evening, Petro called on the people turn out for the runoff elections next month and secure the victory of the forces of change.

"What is being disputed today is change (...) I ask Colombia to make a constructive change of much wider capacity," he said in his speech after polls were closed and he showed a considerable advantage over his closest rival.

In the first comments after the results, Colombian presidential candidate Rodolfo Hernandez, who placed second in this election and is moving to the runoff on June 19th, highlighted Sunday's election day and said that he is prepared to face resistance to his crusade against corruption.