With a statement on her profile on the social network Twitter, the daughter of the late former dictator Efraín Ríos Montt (1982-1983) thanked all Guatemalans who trusted her political project.
He added, “The prosecutors, volunteers and fellow believers who have worked with so much enthusiasm and dedication over these long days.”
The results published by the Supreme Electoral Court clearly reflect a call for changes to be addressed on the basis of the guarantees of the political constitution of the Republic of Guatemala, he stressed.
He congratulated the candidates who won a popularly elected post, “elected deputies and mayors who will represent the Valor-Unionista coalition,” he said, trying for the third time to reach the highest state post in this country.
“I believe in democracy and I wish success to those taking part in the second round of voting,” in a frank allusion to Sandra Torres of the National Unity of Hope (UNE) and the surprising Bernardo Arévalo of the Seed Movement.
He thanked “in particular my family, Héctor Cifuentes (former candidate for the vice-presidency of Valor-Unionista) and my family, who have accompanied me on this political day,” he concluded.
The TSE has up to eight days to confirm the results of Sunday’s vote, but its data show the irreversible difference between the two frontrunners in the presidential race, as 98.27 percent of the voting lists have been audited so far.
Torres scored 15.78 percent, Arévalos 11.80, while Manuel Conde of the official Vamos had 7.84 and Viva Group candidate Armando Castillo had 7.27 percent ahead of the pre-competition favourites.
Renowned ex-diplomat Edmont Mulet de Cabal is only 6.72 and Ríos is sixth (6.56).
The Preliminary Electoral Results Transmission System (TREP) registers 17.38 percent of the invalid votes and is the symbolic leader in the general election in this country.
Another element of indifference to the process that analysts had pointed out the day before is the fact that 7.0 percent of ballots were left blank.
A total of 9.3 million people were called to the polls to elect the president, vice president, 160 MPs and 340 mayors for the period 2024-2028.
The run-off election, which has always taken place since 1985 due to Guatemala’s democratic history and the diversity of the forces involved (22 this time), is scheduled for August 20.
mem/znc