The people of Guatemala vote on Sunday, August 20, in the second round of presidential elections, which has been marked by the intimidation of a surprising front-runner, who intrigued voters with promises to end corruption.
The Central American country's progress is hampered by poverty and violence, and thousands of citizens leave it every year in search of a better life, mostly to the United States.
The outsider and reformist, Bernardo Arevalo, surprised everyone when he finished second in the first round of the election, and will face the former first lady of Guatemala, Sandra Torres. The latest polls show that Arevalo has a significant lead.
Both are social democrats, meaning Guatemala will have its first leftist leader in more than a decade.
After the shocking result in the first round, the offices of Areval's Semilla party, as well as the premises of the electoral committee, were searched, and the United Nations, the European Union and the Organization of American States (OAS) spoke out to express their concern about attempts to undermine the voting process.
"The real power of a democracy comes from respecting the will of the people," Brian A. Nichols, the US assistant secretary of state for Western Hemisphere Affairs, said on social media on Friday.
A week before the vote, OAS Secretary General Luis Almagro said "it is no secret that we are very worried".
Arevalo, a 64-year-old sociologist, claims that he is a victim of "political persecution by a corrupt minority that knows it is losing more and more power every day."
A few days before the vote, prosecutor Rafael Kurućić – who is under sanctions from Washington for corruption – said that he "does not rule out" new searches and possible arrests after the election.
State attempts to protect a corrupt system
Arevalo leads with 50 percent, according to the latest poll by CID Gallup and the Foundation for Freedom and Development, while Torres has 32 percent.
Torres (67) is the ex-wife of the late leftist president Alvaro Colomo. She is trying to be elected president for the fourth time, and has focused on violent crime and poverty.
On Friday, she pointed out that she doubts the objectivity of the electoral commission, accusing it of favoring Arevalo's party.
The winner will replace the unpopular right-wing president, Alejandro Djamatei, who is constitutionally limited to one term.
Observers have condemned the state's attempts to protect a corrupt system that favors those in power, as several prosecutors and journalists have been detained or forced into exile under Giamathei's rule.
The first round of elections in June was marred by low turnout and more than 17 percent of invalid ballots.
Guatemala is among the worst countries in Latin America for poverty, malnutrition and child mortality, according to data from the World Bank.
The homicide rate is among the highest in the world, and many are linked to the violence of drug-trafficking gangs.
About 9,4 million of the 17,6 million citizens are eligible to vote when the polls open at 7 a.m. local time. Voting will last until 18:XNUMX.
The winner will take over on January 14.
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