Juan Manuel Santos 58, former National Defense, Foreign Trade and Finance minister of Colombia won Colombia’s run-off election on Sunday to succeed President Alvaro Uribe to become 40th President of Republic of Colombia. Santos, a member conservative party, had won majority by 69% of the votes compared his rival, former Bogota Mayor Antanas Mockus who trailed with 27.6% with almost all poll counted(98%), according to election authorities.

“All I have to say is thanks, thanks and a thousand thanks.”, “We’ll build on the progress you(A.uribe) achieved over the past eight years.”, “My government will be a government of inclusion. It will be a government by all Colombians and for all Colombians, for work and against poverty. It will be a great agreement so that we can have work, work and more work.” said Santos.

Some of the strong strikes against the FARC, including the high-profile hostage rescue of former presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt in 2008 and Colombia’s military rescued four more hostages last weekend contributed to Santos’ election competency.