Guatemala: Former Front-Runner Drops Out of Presidential Race
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Version 0 of 1. The Guatemalan presidential candidate Manuel Baldizón quit his political party and dropped out of the race on Monday, leaving a television comedian and a former first lady to compete in a runoff. The first round of voting on Sept. 6 put Mr. Baldizón, of the Renewed Democratic Liberty party, in third place, but it was also a statistical tie with the former first lady, Sandra Torres, who garnered about 6,000 votes more. Mr. Baldizón told a local radio station, Radio Sonora, that he could not endorse the results because they “lacked legitimacy,” but he did not ask for a recount. “I can’t endorse anyone who would participate in a process marred by irregularities and corruption,” he said, without giving specifics. That leaves Ms. Torres to face Jimmy Morales, the former comedian, who has never held office, in the Oct. 25 runoff. Mr. Baldizón had been the front-runner until a customs fraud scandal brought down President Otto Pérez Molina, whom Mr. Baldizón had supported. |