Jimmy Morales, a comedian who never held elective office, won Guatemala’s presidency on Sunday after voter fury over corruption scandals fueled months of protests in Central America’s biggest economy. The ruling party candidate, John Magufuli, battled a former prime minister, Edward Lowassa, who defected to the opposition earlier this year, in a presidential race that was too close to predict. Results are expected within four days.
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Investigators first targeted former Vice President Roxana Baldetti, whose personal secretary was named as the alleged ringleader of the scheme, and then Pérez Molina.
Morales, 46, who ran on a conservative platform and has no previous political experience, beat the more liberal Sandra Torres, a former first lady who represented the establishment for many voters.
“We are exhausted of the same faces”, Ana Fuentes, a street seller, told Reuters”. Scandals across Guatemala’s government officials, bankers, political party leaders and even the head of the social-security institute were charged in separate corruption allegations with no one willing to admit their guilt.
“In the name of the Mexican people, I congratulate Jimmy Morales for his triumph in the presidential election of Guatemala”, Nieto said in a statement.
“With this election you have made me president”.
A supporter holds up a baby as he waits for Jimmy Morales, the National Front of Convergence party presidential candidate, during a campaign rally in Guatemala City, Thursday, October 22, 2015.
Javier Zepeda, executive director of the Chamber of Industry, said his business group had observed the vote and estimated turnout at around 45 percent to 50 percent, which would be down 20 points from the first round. Morales released a six-page manifesto lacked any clues as to how he will govern the country once he takes the seat of the Presidency.
One investigation found that Perez and his vice president were at the heart of the customs scam known as La Linea.
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Guatemalans lifted Morales to the land’s highest office despite – or perhaps because of – his political inexperience and unorthodox ideas, including a proposal to make teachers wear Global Positioning System devices to ensure they do their job and an idea to give each child a smartphone, the BBC reported. Morales concluded that no solution is possible if Guatemalans do not fight against corruption. Despite accusations, Morales says he is his own man and Lt. Col. Edgar Ovalle, a member of the party’s executive committee, claims he is “the only former top official who remains at the party”.
