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‘Hope won’ Guatemalan presidential vote, but hurdles remain

By kevodell on August 24, 2023 • ( 1 )

Sandra Cuffe writes in The Christian Science Monitor on the joyful reaction to the result of the presidential election while recognising the challenges ahead, especially regarding the expected political and judicial backlash from those elites who feel their power and corruption threatened by the democratic will of the people.

Firecrackers, noisemakers, and cheers pierced the night sky Sunday as Guatemalans descended on plazas across the country to celebrate the resounding victory of Bernardo Arévalo, a sociologist and member of Congress seen as a threat to the political establishment.

“Hope won,” José López, a retail worker, says excitedly while on his way to one of the impromptu celebrations in Guatemala City. “People are tired of all the corruption. We are fed up,” he says.

Mr. Arévalo, the Movimiento Semilla party’s presidential contender, garnered 58% of the vote. His rival, former first lady Sandra Torres, obtained 37.2%, but she has yet to concede as her Unidad Nacional de la Esperanza party questions the election proceedings.

Just a few months ago, most in Guatemala knew little about Mr. Arévalo, aside from his famous last name. (His father was the country’s first democratically elected president, ushering in a decadelong “democratic spring” in 1945.) But three candidates, including two popular outsiders, were disqualified from the first-round election on questionable grounds, paving the way for Mr. Arévalo’s surprise second-place victory back in June. Brazen judicial moves targeting his party only galvanized voters further, observers say.

There are high expectations from the voters who backed him. They expressed a desire for change from the years of systemic corruption and weakening of institutional independence that have come to define modern politics here. His presidential plans include proposals to combat corruption, improve access to public education and health care, and foment equitable economic growth.

But analysts say Mr. Arévalo’s first challenges will be the certification of the runoff results and getting sworn into office in January. He is expected to face fierce political and judicial backlash in the weeks and months ahead; many here say threats to Guatemala’s democracy are far from over.

You can read the full article, with links and photos, here, ‘Hope won’ Guatemalan presidential vote, but hurdles remain.