Election Fever

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Clashes broke out in parts of Guatemala as the country held general elections, a high-stakes vote that comes amid years of corruption, poverty and violence, Euronews reported Monday.

Locals stopped election authorities from opening polling stations in San Jose del Golfo, in central Guatemala. They complained that individuals from outside the municipality were being bussed in to vote.

The situation resulted in police using tear gas to clear out a crowd of about 300 people, which then prompted locals to throw stones at authorities.

The unrest came as Guatemalans cast their ballots Sunday to choose the country’s next president, vice president and a new parliament.

But the polls had been overshadowed by widespread frustration over high crime, poverty and other issues that have pushed thousands of Guatemalans to migrate each year.

Many voters had also lamented the choice of presidential candidates after authorities blocked a number of opposition politicians from running. Among them was businessman Carlos Pineda, whose disqualification garnered criticism from the United States and the European Union, Reuters noted.

More than 20 candidates ran for president, with former First Lady Sandra Torres and center-left candidate Bernardo Arevalo emerging as the leading contenders.

Even so, preliminary results showed both candidates fell short of the 50 percent plus one vote needed for an outright victory, which means they will head to a runoff on Aug. 20.