Contradictory Moves

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Guatemala’s presidential elections were thrown into turmoil this week, even after the country’s electoral court confirmed Wednesday the results of last month’s highly-contested first round of voting, the Wall Street Journal reported.

The elections took an unexpected turn last week after the Constitutional Court suspended the certification of the results of the first round held on June 25. The top court’s decision came following complaints from some political parties concerning allegations of irregularities in the count.

On Wednesday, the electoral court confirmed the results, saying former First Lady Sandra Torres led the race with 16 percent, while her center-left rival Bernardo Arévalo came in second place with 12 percent.

That same day, Guatemala’s top anti-corruption prosecutor Rafael Curruchiche announced that a court had suspended Arévalo’s Seed Movement party over fraud allegations.

The contradictory moves have raised uncertainty about the second round of voting on Aug. 20 and if Arévalo will be allowed to participate.

Arévalo is running on a platform of anti-corruption and warned that a “deep crisis” would engulf the Central American nation if he is barred from running.

Analysts explained that Arévalo has a chance to win against Torres, who faced corruption allegations in the past and is unpopular in the capital and the country’s main cities.

The presidential race was marred by controversy even before the first round when four presidential candidates, including one who was leading at the polls weeks before the election, were barred from participating.