The system for transmitting the preliminary election results is also currently registering another element of indifference to the process indicated before Election Day: 7.13 percent of the blank ballots.
In the race for the presidency, Sandra Torres from the National Unity of Hope achieved 14.96 percent, followed by the surprising Bernardo Arévalo from Semilla (12.20) and Manuel Conde from the pro-government party Vamos (8.15 percent).
Another contender, also ahead of the pre-competition favourites, in fourth place with 7.39 percent, is Viva’s Armando Castillo, while Cabal’s Edmont Mulet with (6.96) and Valor-Unionista’s Zury Ríos are on the sixth place (6.67).
Analysts called for waiting until voting statistics move forward to speak of a definitive trend, as significant counts are still missing, especially from areas in the most remote departments.
After an election campaign marked by the exclusion of candidates and the persecution of the press, attention is still focused on the Gran Tikal Futura in the capital, home of the Information Center of the Supreme Electoral Court.
Five violent incidents were reported on Sunday, two of which were clashes between local residents and police, who used tear gas to disperse the protests over alleged irregularities.
Voting has been suspended in the municipality of San José del Golfo, northeast of this capital, according to the electoral authority, as has San Martín Zapotitlán, south of Guatemala City.
The votes in this Central American territory will select a new President, a new Vice President, 160 members of Congress, 20 in the Central American Parliament and 340 municipal mayors for the period 2024-2028. If one of the candidates does not get 50 percent plus one of the votes, a second round of voting will take place on Sunday, August 20th, in which the two couples who had the majority of the votes at the first round will take part.
Since 1985, when Guatemala’s democratic era began, no candidate for the highest office in the state has won an absolute majority of valid votes on the first ballot.
jf/znc