Tuesday, September 8th, 2015. Aaron Humes Reporting: The results for Guatemala’s presidential and congressional elections are in, and to say the least, they are surprising.
With nearly 99% of votes counted, comic actor Jimmy Morales leads the presidential race by 5 points over closest rival Sandra Torres, who herself has edged out former front runner Manuel Baldizon.
In the Congress the major parties still hold between them a majority of seats but newer parties have gained some ground. It is encouraging news for local alternative parties which have allied under the Belize Unity Alliance (BUA).
BUA representative Charles Leslie Jr. pointed out that a youth movement over the last three months led to Sunday’s result and opined that the same in Belize would change our direction.
Morales’ platform of change and anti-corruption appeals to the BUA, whose founding member Vision Inspired by the People (VIP) has been campaigning on anti-corruption and an anti-ICJ platform.
He faces a run-off with either Torres or Baldizon next month and needs a simple majority to succeed Otto Perez Molina, who has been told today he will face trial on charges of criminal association, taking bribes and customs fraud in the “La Linea” scandal.