Comedian declares victory in Guatemala

Morales, a comic actor and TV personality with no political experience, had 75% of the vote to 25% for former first lady Sandra Torres, with just over 40% of polling stations reporting, according to official results.

The runoff was held a month and a half after President Otto Perez Molina resigned and was jailed in connection with a sprawling customs scandal. Morales’s campaign slogan was “ni corrupto, ni ladron” – not corrupt, not a crook.

What’s more, just like a certain someone, Morales has said and done a few things as a professional entertainer that might otherwise disqualify him for political office.

In the central town of Chinautla, whose mayor is in jail awaiting trial for money laundering, 35-year-old Leocadio Lic bemoaned rampant corruption.

Morales will be tasked with rebuilding confidence in the government at a time of deep public distrust, shaky institutions and a depleted treasury.

Morales’manifesto conprised only six pages, dealing with how he might govern. Torres admitted defeat even before all votes were counted as Morales’ lead margin became even wider.

The headquarters of Morales’ centre-right National Convergence Front (FCN) party erupted in celebration as official returns showed he had around 68 percent support in a landslide victory.

Guatemalans have elected a new president – former comedian Jimmy Morales.

Morales was already a household name following a 14-year stint on a popular TV comedy show and the self-proclaimed centrist from a humble background wooed voters with promises to tackle corruption and hand out millions of smartphones to children.

“We are exhausted of the same faces”. In Sunday’s presidential runoff, Morales, who boasted of his outsider status on the campaign trail, faces Sandra Torres, a businesswoman and longtime political party operative who in a previous campaign divorced former President Alvaro Colom to try to get around a rule barring presidential relatives from seeking the office.

Because worldwide political trends are often contagious, the outcome of Guatemala’s presidential election could have a serious effect on the upcoming USA presidential election. “But he is the only option”.

Voters in Guatemala were vocally distrustful of politicians ahead of and during the election.

If that trend bears out, it would be a continuation of the citizens’ revolt that made Morales the surprise top vote-getter in the election’s September 6 opening round. “I do think he will be victorious, and that today will be a historic day”.

“Politically, Guatemala is still in diapers and I’m anxious”, said architect Monica Figueroa. “But discontent is so high that those issues aren’t a priority for your average voter”.