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Guatemala City — Comedian Jimmy Morales jumped to a massive lead in Guatemala’s presidential race on Sunday, declaring victory after a campaign upended by a corruption scandal that felled the outgoing president.
Morales, a comic actor and TV personality with no political experience, had 69 percent of the vote to 31 percent for former first lady Sandra Torres, with 94 percent of polling stations reporting.
“With this election you’ve made me president, I received a mandate and that mandate is to fight the corruption that has consumed us,” said Morales on national TV.
“Thank you for this vote of confidence. My commitment remains to God and the Guatemalan people, and I’ll work with all my heart and strength not to defraud you.”
Torres conceded defeat in a brief televised address, telling Guatemalans that “the people have made their choice and we respect it. We wish Mr Morales the best of success.”
It has been a remarkable ride for the conservative candidate, who started the race with just 0.5% support back in April. The campaign was rocked by president Otto Perez’s resignation and arrest on corruption charges on September 3, three days before the first-round vote.
Perez, who is in jail awaiting trial, is accused of masterminding a corrupt network of politicians and customs officials that took bribes from businesses in exchange for illegal discounts on import duties.
Morales, 46, is famous for playing a country bumpkin cowboy who nearly becomes president in the 2007 film A President in a Sombrero.
In real life, the presidential race was his first foray into national politics, though he once ran unsuccessfully for mayor of his hometown. — AFP
Online Reporter