Anti-Graft Crusader Arevalo Wins Guatemala Presidential Election

Guatemalan Anti-Corruption Crusader Bernardo Arevalo was voted in as President on Sunday, preliminary results showed.

Arevalo, a 64-year-old Ex-Diplomat and son of a Former President, had a 58% to 37% lead over Former First Lady Sandra Torres with 99% of votes counted.

Arevalo has vowed to “purge institutions co-opted by the corrupt” and to get people committed to what he calls the fight for justice to return to Guatemala after scores of prosecutors, judges and journalists fled the country.

He faces blowback from entrenched interests and a Congress which his party does not control.

“This victory belongs to the people of Guatemala and now, united as the Guatemalan people, we will fight against corruption,” Arevalo told a news conference after his victory.

President Alejandro Giammattei congratulated Arevalo on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, and invited him to start an “ordered transition” once results were formalized.

The New President takes over January 14.

REUTERS