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Caribbean & Central America - December 2011 (ISSN 1741-4458)

GUATEMALA: Pérez Molina – a different challenge to democracy

Unlike in Nicaragua, Guatemala’s democratic institutions survived the challenge posed by attempts to circumvent the constitution in order to run for the presidency – most notably from former First Lady Sandra Torres of the ruling Unidad Nacional de la Esperanza (UNE). The victory of a former general, Otto Pérez Molina, over the populist businessman Manuel Baldizón, whom he beat by 54%-46% of the valid vote, was in line with institutional procedure. Yet the result has triggered different civil society concerns, given the likely enhanced role of the military under a Pérez Molina government and the implications of the mano dura (hard-line) response to crime – the number one voter concern - which underpins his government agenda.

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