President Juan Manuel Santos is elected President of Colombia for a second, four year term with over 50% of the vote.

Colombians have responded to the president’s cry to vote for peace, rejecting the hardline rhetoric of former president Alvaro Uribe Velez.

Zuluaga, Uribe’s candidate (he himself was not permitted to run), lost by over 5% putting to death any idea that he might contest the result.

Despite polls showing over 70% of Colombians were against Santos’ re-election, the Bogotano managed in the final days of the campaign to strike a series of cross-party coalitions which look to have proved decisive.

This is a major victory for Colombia’s left-wing with Clara Lopez’s 2 million votes appearing to have aligned with Santos – particularly in Bogota. Santos had lost the capital city in the first round of votes, but shot to victory today. Lopez’s base is in Bogota. A coalition with Mayor Gustavo Petro may also have helped increase votes.

Turnout also increased substantially. Just 40% of Colombians voted in May’s first round, while 48% voted today. The spoilt ballot or “blank vote” also slipped to 4%.

Colombians will let out a huge sigh of relief that the “dirtiest campaign in history” has ended.

Mr Santos must now act with speed to sign the peace agreement with the FARC on which he based his campaign.

Colombians were clear today. They want peace. Santos must not let them down.

Analysis to follow…