The presidential race in Guatemala is heating up, with the daughter of former dictator Efraín Ríos Montt, Zury Ríos, and former first lady Sandra Torres leading the polls with 21% and 20% of preferences, respectively. The Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) officially closed the registration of candidates, formally opening the campaign this Monday. Although there are 20 candidates for the presidency, the TSE is evaluating whether the other three aspirants fulfill the requirements to participate.
The campaign begins with allegations of fraud due to the exclusion of indigenous candidate Thelma Cabrera and the participation of Ríos, daughter of the general who ruled the country with an iron fist between 1982 and 1983. The two favorites focus their campaign promises on reducing violence, improving education and health, and fighting poverty, which affects 59% of the city’s 17 million inhabitants.
If there is no winner with 50% plus one of the votes, the top two will compete in a run-off election in August. For the organization Guatemala Verifica, the TSE has sought to “eliminate the strongest parties and candidates, paving the way for those who supposedly appear as finalists in the polls.” On Friday, activists of the Resistance Front Against Electoral Fraud and Dictatorship marched in the capital to reject the candidacy of the daughter of the former dictator.
Ríos Montt was sentenced in 2013 to 80 years in prison for genocide, but the sentence was annulled due to “procedural errors.” The justice system ordered a new trial, but in 2018, the general passed away at the age of 91. The detractors allege that the candidacy of his daughter Zury would be constitutionally prohibited for being the daughter of a coup leader like Ríos Montt, who led the overthrow of General Lucas García (1978–1982) and then proclaimed himself president.
The TSE spokesman explained that they received more than 32,800 files to participate in the elections, and 25 parties presented presidential binomials, but two were discarded for not complying with the requirements. In addition, three other couples have not received credentials, but they can campaign while the TSE evaluates whether they comply with the requirements.