Guatemala election: Bernardo Arevalo, Biden’s favored leader, wins on anti-corruption platform.
Guatemala’s Turbulent Elections: A Triumph for Change
Guatemala’s recent elections have concluded with a resounding victory for Bernardo Arevalo, a progressive former diplomat. Arevalo’s anti-corruption platform tapped into the frustration felt towards a political establishment that had excluded more well-known candidates from the ballot.
“He was kind of a right guy at the right time,”
– Dr. Ryan Berg, Center for Strategic and International Studies
Despite being the son of Guatemala’s first democratically elected president, Arevalo maintained an outsider status. As incumbent powerbrokers seemingly paved the way for former first lady Sandra Torres, Arevalo emerged as the standard-bearer against what he called a “judicial war of oppression.” This propelled him from a weak second-place finish in the primary contest to a resounding victory on Sunday, securing 58% of the vote.
Arevalo humbly accepted the people’s victory, stating, “Today we accept with great humility the victory that the people of Guatemala have given us. The ballots have spoken… and what the people are shouting is ‘enough already of the corruption.'” He emphasized the importance of participating in the democratic process and praised the courage of every voter.
This triumph could pose a threat to the political and mafia elites that have plagued Guatemala, one of the world’s most violent countries. Arevalo has pledged to prioritize economic development and combat the cartels profiting from the flow of people and drugs towards the United States.
“We are clear that development will not come unless you take away corruption from the equation of governance.”
– Bernardo Arevalo
However, analysts caution that Arevalo’s victory alone is not a cure-all for Guatemala or its relationship with the United States. Evan Ellis from the U.S. Army War College warns that Arevalo’s opposition to the establishment elites may attract support from the far left, including those who seek to impose Chavista leftist populism.
Arevalo faces significant opposition even before his inauguration in January. His opponent’s political party has expressed doubts about the election results and demanded transparency in the tabulations.
“There’s very clearly a lot of interests in Guatemala that are working to prevent anti-corruption from becoming a major theme of the next administration.”
– Dr. Ryan Berg
While Arevalo’s outsider status propelled him to victory, it also means he lacks a strong network of allies within the political system to help implement his agenda.
Despite these challenges, Arevalo’s election is expected to ignite the fight against corruption in Guatemala. However, some experts, like Evan Ellis, doubt that it will lead to a significant reduction in corruption or solve the country’s underlying problems.
For Arevalo, this election has galvanized the Guatemalan people to actively protest against corruption. He recognizes the belief among the people that they can finally rid themselves of the corrupt political system that has plagued them for decades.
" Conservative News Daily does not always share or support the views and opinions expressed here; they are just those of the writer."
*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
