Guatemala’s Anti-Corruption Crusader Wins Presidential Runoff Election
In a surprising turn of events, Bernardo Arévalo, an anticorruption activist and sociologist, emerged victorious in Guatemala’s presidential runoff election on Sunday. Arévalo, a member of the upstart party Movimiento Semilla (Seed Movement), garnered 58% of the vote with 98% of votes counted. His opponent, Sandra Torres, a former first lady, received 37% of the vote.
This election outcome marks a significant moment for Guatemala, the most populous country in Central America and a major source of migration to the United States. Arévalo’s victory represents a rejection of the country’s conservative political establishment, which has been embroiled in numerous corruption scandals in recent years. There were concerns that the ruling elites were attempting to block other candidates who posed a threat to their interests, but Arévalo’s campaigning focused on combating corruption and seeking justice for government employees targeted for political reasons.
Arévalo’s win also signifies a break from the traditional political landscape in Guatemala. While he is a moderate and criticizes the leftist governments in the region, he is seen as the most progressive candidate to make it this far in the country’s democratic history. His campaign prioritized issues such as infrastructure development, tackling corruption, and protecting human rights and the environment.
During the campaign, both Arévalo and Torres addressed Guatemala’s infrastructure challenges, including the lack of paved roads and inadequate transportation systems. They also proposed building the country’s first-ever subway line. However, Arévalo’s support base, largely composed of urban professionals, was drawn more to his anti-corruption platform rather than Torres’ focus on crime and emulating El Salvador’s conservative president, Nayib Bukele.
For Torres, this was her third unsuccessful bid for the presidency. She had previously been barred from running due to her relationship with former President Álvaro Colom, who was her husband at the time. However, she was able to run in this election after a judge closed an illicit campaign financing case against her. Despite highlighting social issues and promising increased assistance for the poor, Torres failed to secure enough support.
Arévalo’s victory signals hope for many Guatemalan voters who have grown disillusioned with traditional politics and are looking for a significant change. His plans to combat corruption, alleviate poverty, and stimulate job creation are aimed at improving the country’s economic prospects and reducing the need for migration to the United States. However, his ability to govern may face challenges as a top prosecutor has raised concerns over irregularities in his party’s formation and threatened to issue arrest warrants for some of its members.
As official results are expected to be released in the coming days, the people of Guatemala are hopeful that their new president will bring about positive change and work towards a more transparent and accountable government.