20-06-19 Latin American Weekly Report

Sandra Torres of the opposition Unidad Nacional de la Esperanza (UNE)
came first in a crowded field of candidates in Guatemala’s presidential elections
on 16 June. The former First Lady (2008-2012) will go head to head with
Alejandro Giammattei of Partido Vamos, a four-time presidential contender,
in a run-off in August. With the electoral process having attracted multiple
concerns amid legal uncertainty over the candidates and electoral violence,
the run-off rivals have left local commentators less than optimistic
about the prospects for the fight against corruption – a major public
concern. This has already taken a major knock under the government led by
President Jimmy Morales who, among other things, announced last year
that he would not renew the mandate of the International Commission
against impunity in Guatemala (Cicig) when it expires this September.