Guatemala's 'iron fist' party leads the polls

[Jefferson23]

Some worry that a win by the right-wing Partido Patriota in September could mean repression and militarisation.

Danilo Valladares Last Modified: 24 Aug 2011 14:35

Activists in Guatemala are alarmed at the prospect of a victory by the right in the September general elections, recalling the dismal records of past regimes in the areas of human rights, the economy and justice.

On September 11, Guatemalans will elect social democratic President Alvaro Colom's successor. With just three weeks to go, the polls show that retired General Otto Perez of the right-wing Partido Patriota (PP - Patriotic Party) has a wide lead over his rivals.

In a July 2 - August 8 CID Gallup poll, 29 per cent of respondents said they supported Perez, while 13 per cent backed Manuel Baldizon of the populist Libertad Democratica Renovada (LIDER - Renewed Democratic Freedom party), 26 per cent supported other candidates and 32 per cent were undecided.

Sandra Torres, President Colom's ex-wife, was until recently running second in the polls, with nearly 15 per cent support. However, the constitutional court ruled out her candidacy because Colom was in office at the time of their divorce, and Guatemala's constitution bars family members of any sitting president from running for office.

After Torres was forced to pull out of the race there were some shifts in the electoral scenario, but Perez remained at the top of the polls. Civil society leaders are expressing concern about the future, especially in terms of human rights, economic development and the independence of the judiciary.


in full: http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/features/2011/08/20118238316397877.html