Running vote-counts from the Supreme Electoral Tribunal have shown Morales in a commanding lead throughout the evening with about 70 percent to Sandra Torres’ 30 percent.
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Morales, who describes himself as a centrist, has had to reassure voters his party is not too close to the military, which played an often brutal role in Guatemala’s 1960-1996 civil war.
An estimated 54 percent of Guatemala’s 15.8 million people live below the poverty line of $1.50 a day, and 6,000 people a year died as a result of violence, one of the highest murder rates in Latin America.
It was thought that Torres, who had been popular when she was in charge of social programs for the poor in the administration of her husband, President Alvaro Colom, might do better in poor and indigenous areas to make up for Morales’ advantage in urban areas.
Morales’ political manifesto was only six pages, which suggests the president-elect has indeed been afforded the benefit of the doubt.
Morales wants to strengthen not just the economy, but the security situation in his nation. “It is not easy, but if we do not start today, much time will pass by without a solution to the migration phenomena”. His primary platform (and campaign slogan) was simple- he wasn’t a thief.
Former president Perez, who is in jail awaiting trial, is accused of masterminding a corrupt network of politicians and customs officials that took bribes from businesses in exchange for illegal discounts on import duties.
A spokeswoman for Biden said the vice president had “consistently made clear to leaders throughout the Central American region that US assistance was only possible if they continued to make progress on tackling corruption”. “We should really ask who is behind the candidate…” On the Democratic side, outsider Sen. However, the United States isn’t the only country where political elections have seen alternative, non-political candidates making headway.
“I’m not a career politician”, Morales told Breitbart News.
I t’s a season of global political change.
Morales vowed to continue the fight against corruption as he cast his ballot, dressed in the jersey of the Guatemalan national football team.
“The CICIG is an extension of the United States’ State Department in Guatemala”, said Ricardo Mendez, head of the right-wing Foundation Against Terrorism, a lobby group for retired Guatemalan military officials. This was an election that was being watched closely by many Belizeans, particularly since it was an issue Morales was campaigning on.
“Politically, Guatemala is still in diapers and I’m anxious”, said architect Monica Figueroa.
“There are plans and there have been plans”. What about his other policies – should he put them into action?
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Perez said he opposed CICIG’s work because it was trampling on Guatemala’s sovereignty but that Biden demanded he renew its mandate and threatened to halt USA aid to Guatemala if he refused.
