Sandra Torres Ahead in Guatemala’s Presidential Elections

Sandra Torres

Sandra Torres, Guatemala’s former first lady, is leading in the Guatemalan elections, following the release of partial results today. Torres, who has ties to Belize, successfully won the first round of the presidential elections. According to online reports, Torres garnered more than twenty-five percent of the vote while her opponent conservative Alejandro Giammattei garnered fourteen percent. In order to be victorious, Torres says she would work to forge alliances to win the runoff, which is due to be held in August. For weeks, Torres has led the race to succeed President Jimmy Morales. According to the Guardian, Guatemala’s next president faces the difficult task of curbing drug gang violence that has ravaged the country and helped spur illegal immigration to the United States, souring relations with Donald Trump. Torres is facing opposition from conservative voters. The national vote was split between nineteen candidates.