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Guatemalans face choice of former blackface comedian or ex-first lady Guatemalans face choice of former blackface comedian or ex-first lady
(about 3 hours later)
A former comedian best known for performing in blackface and an afro wig is the odds-on favourite to become Guatemala’s new president this Sunday when he faces a former first lady in the final stage of an election overshadowed by a corruption scandal that has rocked the country’s political elite.A former comedian best known for performing in blackface and an afro wig is the odds-on favourite to become Guatemala’s new president this Sunday when he faces a former first lady in the final stage of an election overshadowed by a corruption scandal that has rocked the country’s political elite.
Jimmy Morales, an evangelical Christian who is backed by retired generals implicated in civil war atrocities, has built a clear lead in the polls despite having no political experience or clear policies.Jimmy Morales, an evangelical Christian who is backed by retired generals implicated in civil war atrocities, has built a clear lead in the polls despite having no political experience or clear policies.
Related: Guatemala election puts Latin America's affinity for racist caricatures in spotlight
The comedic actor’s popularity soared unexpectedly amid the corruption scandal which has led to dozens of high-profile arrests and unprecedented mass protests across the country.The comedic actor’s popularity soared unexpectedly amid the corruption scandal which has led to dozens of high-profile arrests and unprecedented mass protests across the country.
Related: Guatemala's president spends night in jail after resignation
Morales took 24% of the votes in the election’s first round which was held just days after then president Otto Pérez Molina was forced to resign over a multimillion-dollar bribery case. Pérez Molina, along with his former vice-president, Roxana Baldetti, is currently in jail awaiting trial for corruption, illicit association and bribery.Morales took 24% of the votes in the election’s first round which was held just days after then president Otto Pérez Molina was forced to resign over a multimillion-dollar bribery case. Pérez Molina, along with his former vice-president, Roxana Baldetti, is currently in jail awaiting trial for corruption, illicit association and bribery.
Morales’s plain and simple campaign slogan – “not corrupt, not a thief” – capitalised on widespread public disillusionment with the status quo.Morales’s plain and simple campaign slogan – “not corrupt, not a thief” – capitalised on widespread public disillusionment with the status quo.
Irma Velásquez, 32, an accountant in Guatemala City who voted for Morales, told the Guardian: “I’m so fed up with corrupt politicians. Jimmy Morales is the only candidate who can change things.”Irma Velásquez, 32, an accountant in Guatemala City who voted for Morales, told the Guardian: “I’m so fed up with corrupt politicians. Jimmy Morales is the only candidate who can change things.”
Morales, 46, is best known for the slapstick comedy show Moralejas, or Morals, which was broadcast for 15 years and spawned several films and live shows. Morales played various roles, including a bungling cowboy who accidentally became president, and a blackface character known as Black Pitaya, who spoke in an infantile voice and told self-deprecating jokes.Morales, 46, is best known for the slapstick comedy show Moralejas, or Morals, which was broadcast for 15 years and spawned several films and live shows. Morales played various roles, including a bungling cowboy who accidentally became president, and a blackface character known as Black Pitaya, who spoke in an infantile voice and told self-deprecating jokes.
He has since defended the character – which also appeared on a line of shampoos and beauty products – by claiming he is adored by the country’s black Garifuna and indigenous Mayan communities.He has since defended the character – which also appeared on a line of shampoos and beauty products – by claiming he is adored by the country’s black Garifuna and indigenous Mayan communities.
Morales’s celebrity status has helped promote his image as a political outsider even though he first ran for office as a municipal mayor back in 2011, when he was beaten by Pérez Molina’s son.Morales’s celebrity status has helped promote his image as a political outsider even though he first ran for office as a municipal mayor back in 2011, when he was beaten by Pérez Molina’s son.
Morales then joined the National Convergence Front (FCN-Nación) which was founded in 2007 by members of the rightwing Guatemalan Military Veterans Association – including several who are linked to civil war crimes.Morales then joined the National Convergence Front (FCN-Nación) which was founded in 2007 by members of the rightwing Guatemalan Military Veterans Association – including several who are linked to civil war crimes.
Despite his party’s indisputable military origins, Morales denies any links to army officials. He recently said he doesn’t believe genocide was committed during the 36-year conflict which left 200,000 dead, most of whom where members of the country’s indigenous population.Despite his party’s indisputable military origins, Morales denies any links to army officials. He recently said he doesn’t believe genocide was committed during the 36-year conflict which left 200,000 dead, most of whom where members of the country’s indigenous population.
Morales has promised to focus on child malnutrition which affects half of all under-fives, and says he will run a transparent government with zero tolerance of corruption. He has praised the UN-backed commission whose investigation eventually toppled Pérez Molina, but recently said he will dismantle it in six years.Morales has promised to focus on child malnutrition which affects half of all under-fives, and says he will run a transparent government with zero tolerance of corruption. He has praised the UN-backed commission whose investigation eventually toppled Pérez Molina, but recently said he will dismantle it in six years.
Critics say Morales has no specific policies.Critics say Morales has no specific policies.
“We have no idea about Morales except that he thinks of himself as a law and order candidate and he’s very good at talking in concise soundbites in front of camera. He is not unlike Donald Trump,” said Steven Dudley, co-director of InsightCrime, which analyses organised crime in the Americas. “If he wins, he’ll go in without a single concrete policy and no party infrastructure.”“We have no idea about Morales except that he thinks of himself as a law and order candidate and he’s very good at talking in concise soundbites in front of camera. He is not unlike Donald Trump,” said Steven Dudley, co-director of InsightCrime, which analyses organised crime in the Americas. “If he wins, he’ll go in without a single concrete policy and no party infrastructure.”
Yet the former comic’s simple message, personable manner and image as an untainted newcomer have resonated with voters, said Mike Allison, associate professor of political science at the University of Scranton.Yet the former comic’s simple message, personable manner and image as an untainted newcomer have resonated with voters, said Mike Allison, associate professor of political science at the University of Scranton.
Meanwhile, his opponent Sandra Torres, 60, is accused of representing the old guard.Meanwhile, his opponent Sandra Torres, 60, is accused of representing the old guard.
She was a high-profile first lady during the 2008-2011 administration of her husband, Álvaro Colón, overseeing prominent social and welfare programmes targeted at women and children.She was a high-profile first lady during the 2008-2011 administration of her husband, Álvaro Colón, overseeing prominent social and welfare programmes targeted at women and children.
Torres, who won 19% of first-round votes, is standing for the centre-left National Unity of Hope party (UNE), which she co-founded in 2002. She is popular with the rural poor and has pledged to restructure the country’s debt in order to tackle inequality by funding health, social and education programmes.Torres, who won 19% of first-round votes, is standing for the centre-left National Unity of Hope party (UNE), which she co-founded in 2002. She is popular with the rural poor and has pledged to restructure the country’s debt in order to tackle inequality by funding health, social and education programmes.
Guatemala is Central America’s largest economy, but has an abysmal tax collection record and rampant corruption means a staggering 75% of the population live below the poverty line.Guatemala is Central America’s largest economy, but has an abysmal tax collection record and rampant corruption means a staggering 75% of the population live below the poverty line.
However, skeletons from Torres’s political past have resurfaced at a time when public tolerance for political wrongdoing is at an all-time low.However, skeletons from Torres’s political past have resurfaced at a time when public tolerance for political wrongdoing is at an all-time low.
Torres divorced her husband in 2011, evading a constitutional ban on relatives of incumbent presidents running for office. Judges ruled the divorce a sham and she was barred from running in that election.Torres divorced her husband in 2011, evading a constitutional ban on relatives of incumbent presidents running for office. Judges ruled the divorce a sham and she was barred from running in that election.
Her party is being investigated for illegal campaign financing, and the Mexican drug cartel the Zetas have claimed to have donated money to the party.Her party is being investigated for illegal campaign financing, and the Mexican drug cartel the Zetas have claimed to have donated money to the party.
In 2011, Torres’s sister Gloria, a co-founder of UNE, was charged with embezzlement along with two of her daughters, although the case never came to trial.In 2011, Torres’s sister Gloria, a co-founder of UNE, was charged with embezzlement along with two of her daughters, although the case never came to trial.
Nevertheless, Alejandra Hernández, 26, a child nutritionist in Guatemala City, will vote for Torres. “The truth is I’m not convinced by either but I don’t want to not vote, and it is important to me that a woman holds the position. I don’t have anything against Jimmy but I don’t see how someone who has his face on shampoo bottles mocking an ethnic group can run Guatemala.”Nevertheless, Alejandra Hernández, 26, a child nutritionist in Guatemala City, will vote for Torres. “The truth is I’m not convinced by either but I don’t want to not vote, and it is important to me that a woman holds the position. I don’t have anything against Jimmy but I don’t see how someone who has his face on shampoo bottles mocking an ethnic group can run Guatemala.”
Hundreds of thousands of ordinary Guatemalans took to the streets this summer in a wave of a collective disgust at the audacious stealing of public funds by corrupt officials.Hundreds of thousands of ordinary Guatemalans took to the streets this summer in a wave of a collective disgust at the audacious stealing of public funds by corrupt officials.
But according to Martín Rodríguez, founder of the investigative news website Nomada, neither candidate in Sunday’s election is offering any hope of change.But according to Martín Rodríguez, founder of the investigative news website Nomada, neither candidate in Sunday’s election is offering any hope of change.
“Jimmy Morales represents a continuation of the Otto Pérez government as he is supported by the same army officers, industrialists and politicians. He is not capable of governing and there will be an immediate crisis if he wins. Sandra Torres is much better prepared and has a much better team, but she doesn’t represent a break from the past [either]. The country is at a crossroads and neither candidate is good enough.”“Jimmy Morales represents a continuation of the Otto Pérez government as he is supported by the same army officers, industrialists and politicians. He is not capable of governing and there will be an immediate crisis if he wins. Sandra Torres is much better prepared and has a much better team, but she doesn’t represent a break from the past [either]. The country is at a crossroads and neither candidate is good enough.”