FLASHBACK:
"Ex-general atop polls as Guatemalans vote" September 12, 2011|Associated Press
GUATEMALA CITY - A former military general known for his “iron fist’’ campaign to stop Guatemala’s epidemic crime rates led the field of 10 candidates heading into yesterday’s presidential election.
Voters disappointed in outgoing President Alvaro Colom’s failure to reduce crime have indicated in polls that Otto Perez Molina may be the best person to lead the nation, which has one of the highest murder rates in the Western Hemisphere....
Guatemala has its own gangs.
--more--"
"Ex-general takes large lead in Guatemala vote" November 07, 2011|Associated Press
GUATEMALA CITY - A former general promising law and order had a wide lead over a tycoon-turned-political populist in Guatemala’s presidential election, according to preliminary results yesterday.
Otto Perez Molina, 61, a retired general from the right-wing Patriotic Party, had 55 percent of the vote compared with 44 percent for Manuel Baldizon, 41, of the Democratic Freedom Revival party, with more than 87 percent of the votes counted, according to the country’s electoral tribunal.
Polls showed Perez ahead by that margin going into election day. While many predicted the race would be much closer, analysts also said a small turnout would favor Perez.
Turnout was about 45 percent of registered voters, according to the tribunal.
“The low participation is one of the indicators that worries us because it shows that the people don’t support or feel represented by the political options,’’ said Manfredo Marroquin of the non-governmental organization, Mirador Electoral, or Electoral Observer.
I know how they feel.
The two traded barbs yesterday, with Perez accusing Baldizon in a news conference of offering gifts in exchange for votes and Baldizon urging voters not to elect someone with “blood on his hands’’ for Perez’s involvement the military during the country’s 36-year civil war....
Baldizon barely registered in the polls when campaigning began six months ago and has risen dramatically since. The businessman has made many promises that some considered outlandish, including that he would take Guatemala’s soccer team to the World Cup. But other promises are appealing in a country with rampant poverty and crime, including giving workers an extra month’s salary a year, reinstating the death penalty, and televising executions.
More than half of Guatemalans live in poverty in a nation 14 million overrun by organized crime and Mexican drug cartels.
Guatemala has one of the highest murder rates in the world, a product of gang and cartel violence, along with the legacy of its 1960-1996 civil war in which the army, police, and paramilitary are blamed for killed the vast majority of 200,000 victims.
During which they received AmeriKan support.
--more--"
Also see: Guatemala elects Perez president
