Over eight million Guatemalans head to the polls as former first lady Torres and opinion poll frontrunner Giammattei bid to succeed the corruption-tainted Morales as president
An indigenous woman shows a ballot at a polling station during runoff elections in Santa Cruz Chinautla, Guatemala, on August 11, 2019.
Electoral court president Julio Solorzano presided over the symbolic opening of the poll at 7:00 am from a public school in the historic centre of Guatemala City.Solorzano urged citizens to avoid violence if the vote went against their preferred candidate. Corruption was the main issue leading up to the first round of elections in June — which Torres topped — but that has been superseded by the political scandal over the migration deal with the United States.Neither candidate arrives with a glowing reputation, both having failed in previous bids for the presidency.
Giammattei, a conservative, has hardly come off any better. Investigative website Nomada branded him as "impulsive...despotic, tyrannical...capricious, vindictive," among other undesirable traits. The pact — part of Trump's campaign to stem migration at his country's southern border — has proved highly unpopular in Guatemala, with demonstrators blocking roads and occupying the University of San Carlos.Grais-Targow believes the agreement would place "a major strain on the economy" if it overcomes legal challenges and takes effect.
Remittances from Guatemalans in the US are a crucial part of the economy, reaching a record $9.3 billion last year. That compares to Guatemala's export revenue of $10.5 billion.Torres and Giammattei have avoided committing to strong positions over the migration pact.
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