Jimmy Morales Wins Guatemalan Presidential Election in Landslide
A man claiming to be honest is becoming executive-in-chief
and It will happen in just a few hours,
although it's in a small Latin country--not ours.
Still, this sets an intriguing precedent,
which might inspire our own search for a President.
And, in what may or may not further inspire a sense of trust,
Mr. Morales is a former TV comedian, so at least he must
then be able to tell everyone a joke
if and when his country goes broke.
Perhaps our candidates also should campaign in Spanish
before America's remaining power and funds totally vanish--
rather than being Trumped, pilloried,
(C)arsoned or Hillaried?
HZL
10/26/15
In the news
More news for clinton's ties to Corning
Jimmy Morales Wins Guatemalan Presidential Election in Landslide
TV comedian is political outsider who now must meet his promise to tackle country’s rampant corruption
Voters wait in line at a polling station to cast their ballots for president in Sumpango, Guatemala, on Sunday. PHOTO: SAUL MARTINEZ/BLOOMBERG NEWS
GUATEMALA CITY— Jimmy Morales, a former television comedy actor who promised to clean up Guatemala’s corrupt politics, won a landslide victory in Sunday’s presidential election.
With 92% of ballots counted, Mr. Morales had 70% of the vote, compared with 30% for his rival, former first lady Sandra Torres. If the trend holds, it would be the largest margin of victory in a presidential vote here since democracy was restored in 1985 after a military dictatorship.
“I have been given a mandate, a mandate to clean up corruption that has eaten at this country,” Mr. Morales said in a TV message.
Mr. Morales, who once played the role of a bumbling cowboy who accidentally becomes president, was a virtual unknown until about six months ago, when a string of corruption scandals led to widespread protests and ultimately the resignation and imprisonment of former President Otto Pérez Molina, his vice president and other top officials.
A social conservative who campaigned on the slogan “Neither corrupt nor a thief,” Mr. Morales capitalized on the popular fury against the political system, rising quickly in the polls in recent months. On Sunday, he capped off his remarkable journey from outsider to president-elect.
“We need a change and I think Jimmy can deliver. Someone new deserves a chance,” said university student Samuel Ruiz, 20.
Jimmy Morales, the National Front of Convergence party candidate, accompanied his wife, Hilda Patricia Morales, to cast their votes during the presidential runoff election at a polling station in Mixco, Guatemala, on Sunday.PHOTO: LUIS SOTO/ASSOCIATED PRESS
The runoff vote followed a first round of balloting in early September amid a crowded field of 14 candidates. Mr. Morales and Ms. Torres rose to the top of the pack after both made the fight against corruption their main campaign platform.
Now, Guatemalans will want to see more than just campaign rhetoric about corruption. “Jimmy has the enormous challenge of delivering the anticorruption agenda many Guatemalans are demanding,” said Edgar Gutierrez, a political analyst and former foreign minister.
Polls show corruption is the main concern in Guatemala, above insecurity and unemployment. Guatemala ranks 115 out of 175 countries in the corruption perceptions index of International Transparency—one of the worst positions in the region.
Some businessmen calculate around 30% of the country’s meager annual government spending, $9.1 billion this year, is squandered through corruption.
But this year’s scandals, which were uncovered by a United Nations-backed crime-fighting agency, surprised even the most-hardened Guatemalans. The president, vice president and several others were brought down by an alleged customs-fraud scheme. They deny the charges.
Former Guatemalan first lady, Sandra Torres, lost to Jimmy Morales in Sunday’s presidential vote. PHOTO: JOSE CABEZAS/REUTERS
The head of the central bank, leaders of several political parties and the head of the social-security institute were also brought down in separate corruption allegations. They also deny the charges.
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