Voters In Colombian Reject Peace Deal With FARC Rebels

People wait in line to enter an electoral voting center during a referendum on a peace deal between the government and Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) rebels, in Bogota, Colombia, October 2, 2016. REUTERS/Felipe Caicedo

Wall Street Journal: Colombian Voters Reject Peace Deal With Rebels

Narrow dismissal of accord with FARC is a blow to President Santos, thrusting nation into uncertainty

BOGOTÁ, Colombia—Voters rejected a peace accord between President Juan Manuel Santos and a Marxist rebel group that would have ended 52 years of conflict, a startling outcome that thrusts this country into uncertainty.

With 99.9% of votes counted in Sunday’s plebiscite, “No” votes—totaling nearly 6.5 million—outnumbered “Yes” votes by fewer than 60,000.

The results mark the latest instance of voters rejecting counsel from their government and the establishment, after the U.K. vote to leave the European Union in June. Weather and absenteeism of more than 62% played a role in the results.

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WNU Editor: The voter turnout was abysmally low, and the NO camp won by about 60,000 votes. This is a huge blow to President Santos .... he clearly misread the public's opinion on his willingness to make a peace deal with FARC. But even with this rejection, President Juan Manuel Santos has vowed to keep a cease-fire in place and to forge ahead with his efforts to end a half-century of war. On a side note .... the polls were predicting a 65% acceptance of the peace deal only a few days ago.

More News On Colombia's Voters Rejecting A Peace Deal With FARC

Colombia Peace Deal Headed to Defeat, Causing Shock and Uncertainty
-- NYT
Colombia referendum: Voters reject Farc peace deal -- BBC
Colombians reject deal to end 52-year FARC rebel war -- Reuters
Colombia's leader to push ahead on peace after shock defeat -- AP
Colombia Narrowly Rejects Historic Peace Deal With Rebels -- NBC
Colombians Narrowly Reject Landmark Peace Deal, Confounding Expectations -- VOA
Colombia's accord deal seems headed to defeat -- FOX News
In Surprise Result, Colombian Voters Reject Peace Deal -- NPR
Colombians reject FARC peace deal by tiny margin -- RT
Colombia Leaps Into Unknown as Voters Reject FARC Peace Deal -- Bloomberg