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Guatemala election: Votes counted in presidential poll | Guatemala election: Votes counted in presidential poll |
(35 minutes later) | |
Polls have closed in Guatemala, where a new president and congress are being elected amid a deep political crisis. | Polls have closed in Guatemala, where a new president and congress are being elected amid a deep political crisis. |
Former President Otto Perez Molina resigned last week and was swiftly arrested over a customs fraud scheme. | |
Many Guatemalans had called for the polls to be postponed in the wake of the allegations. | Many Guatemalans had called for the polls to be postponed in the wake of the allegations. |
Leading contenders include centre-right businessman Manuel Baldizon and comic actor Jimmy Morales. | Leading contenders include centre-right businessman Manuel Baldizon and comic actor Jimmy Morales. |
If, as expected, no candidate wins 50% of the vote, there will be a second round of voting on 25 October. | If, as expected, no candidate wins 50% of the vote, there will be a second round of voting on 25 October. |
"Guatemala wants change and to not be governed by people with dark pasts," said Mr Morales after voting near Guatemala City. | "Guatemala wants change and to not be governed by people with dark pasts," said Mr Morales after voting near Guatemala City. |
"Guatemala wants to live in peace. Guatemala wants elections," Mr Baldizon told journalists after casting his vote. | "Guatemala wants to live in peace. Guatemala wants elections," Mr 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 scepticism that the poll could achieve political change. | There had been calls for Guatemalans to wear black clothes of mourning as they cast their vote, amid scepticism that the poll could achieve political change. |
"I cast a blank vote in protest as the candidates are all bad, they're all the same as those who robbed from us," 34-year-old Josefa Hernandez told Reuters news agency in a suburb of Guatemala City. | "I cast a blank vote in protest as the candidates are all bad, they're all the same as those who robbed from us," 34-year-old Josefa Hernandez told Reuters news agency in a suburb of Guatemala City. |
"If nobody votes for them, maybe they'll realise we're fed up," she added. | "If nobody votes for them, maybe they'll realise we're fed up," she added. |
But voters queued from the early hours to cast their ballots. | But 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. | 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. | Some 7.5 million people were eligible to vote in the polls. |
Prosecutors accuse Mr Perez Molina of masterminding a scheme in which businessmen paid bribes to evade customs charges. He denies involvement. | Prosecutors accuse Mr Perez Molina of masterminding a scheme in which businessmen paid bribes to evade customs charges. He denies involvement. |