Former comedian Jimmy Morales has been inaugurated as Guatemala’s new president.
Jimmy Morales was elected in October after huge anti-corruption demonstrations that led to the prosecution of a former president and vice-president.
He has no previous experience in government. In his inaugural address, Jimmy Morales promised to fight against corruption.
US Vice-President Joe Biden attended the ceremony.
It was the first time in 30 years that such a high-ranking American official was present at a Guatemalan inauguration.
Photo Getty Images
In a wide-ranging speech, Jimmy Morales praised the anti-corruption movement and said Guatemala was going through a “renaissance”.
He also promised money for health and education.
“We want quality education for everyone, which prepares our children for a modern technical world,” Jimmy Morales said.
His critics said President Jimmy Morales gave few clues as to how he was going to fight corruption and how he was going to deal with Guatemala’s high levels of violence, poverty and social inequality.
Last week legal proceedings began against an aide to Jimmy Morales who is suspected of human rights abuses related to Guatemala’s long and bloody armed conflict which ended in 1996.
Fourteen former military officers – many supporters of Jimmy Morales’s party – were arrested on similar charges.
Jimmy Morales has denied links to the former military officials.
Jimmy Morales has been elected as Guatemala’s president after winning the runoff vote in the country’s presidential election.
The former comedian has no experience in government.
Jimmy Morales polled 72% against former Guatemala first lady Sandra Torres, who is seen by many as part of the country’s unpopular political elite.
Sandra Torres admitted defeat before all the votes were counted, as the margin of Jimmy Morales’ lead became clear.
The vote took place a month after the resignation and arrest of President Otto Perez Molina.
Otto Perez Molina is accused of leading a corrupt network of politicians and customs officials.
Photo TeleSUR
The former president denies involvement in a scheme which saw businessmen pay bribes to evade customs charges.
Many voters see Jimmy Morales as a fresh start following nationwide protests that ousted Otto Perez Molina.
“As president I received a mandate, and the mandate of the people of Guatemala is to fight against the corruption that is consuming us. God bless and thank you,” said Jimmy Morales after the count.
However, turnout was low, despite calls for voters to help Guatemala overcome a serious political crisis.
Sandra Torres ran government social programs when her ex-husband Alvaro Colom was president between 2008 and 2012.
Jimmy Morales has regaled voters with stories about his humble origins and jokes from a 14-year period on a TV comedy show.
He has been criticized for some of his more far-fetched policies which include the tagging of teachers with a GPS device to ensure they attend classes and giving each Guatemalan child an iPhone.
Jimmy Morales’ manifesto is only six pages – giving few indications as to how he might run the country – but he is known to favor low taxes and limited government.
One of his most famous comedy roles was that of a useless cowboy who becomes president by accident.
Jimmy Morales faces a difficult task as his National Convergence Front (FCN) will have just 11 out of 158 seats in the next Congress.
Critics accuse Jimmy Morales of having no program and no team, just the ability to exploit voter grievances.
His rise in the polls has been attributed to his targeting of public sector corruption which has engulfed the government.
One investigation found that former President Otto Perez Molina and his vice president were at the center of the customs scam. Both deny any involvement.
Otto Perez Molina was impeached, deprived of his presidential immunity and arrested in September. He is now in jail awaiting trial.
Guatemalan actor Jimmy Morales is leading in the country’s presidential poll, early results have showed.
Jimmy Morales, who has campaigned against corruption, has about 25% of the vote so far, with a centre-right businessman, Manuel Baldizon, on 21%.
If no candidate wins more than half the votes, a second round will be held.
Voting took place on September 6, days after the resignation and arrest of President Otto Perez Molina over corruption allegations.
A new congress is also being elected.
Many voters had called for the polls to be postponed in the wake of the allegations.
If no candidate wins 50% of the vote, the second round of voting will take place on October 25.
“Guatemala wants change and to not be governed by people with dark pasts,” said Jimmy Morales after voting near Guatemala City.
“Guatemala wants to live in peace. Guatemala wants elections,” Manuel Baldizon told journalists after casting his vote.
There had been calls for Guatemalans to wear black clothes of mourning as they cast their vote, amid skepticism that the poll could achieve political change.
Voters queued from the early hours to cast their ballots.
Electoral authorities said 50% of voters had cast their ballots five hours after polls opened.
Some 7.5 million people were eligible to vote in the polls.
Prosecutors accuse Otto Perez Molina of masterminding a scheme in which businessmen paid bribes to evade customs charges. The former president denies involvement.
Voters in Guatemala are heading to the polls in presidential elections amid a deep political crisis.
Former President Otto Perez Molina resigned this week and was swiftly arrested over a customs fraud scheme.
Many people in the Latin American country have called for the polls to be postponed in the wake of the allegations.
Photo Reuters
Leading contenders include centre-right businessman Manuel Baldizon and comic actor Jimmy Morales.
If no candidate wins 50% of the vote there will be a second round of voting on October 25.
There have been calls for Guatemalans to wear black clothes of mourning as they cast their vote, amid skepticism that the poll can achieve political change.
Prosecutors accuse Otto Perez Molina of masterminding a scheme in which businessmen paid bribes to evade customs charges. The former president denies involvement.
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