Comedian elected as Guatemala president

A former TV comedian with no experience in government has won the run-off vote in Guatemala’s presidential election. Jimmy Morales got more than double the votes of ex-first lady Sandra Torres, who is seen by many as part of the country’s unpopular political elite. Mr Morales campaigned on a promise to fight graft following the […]

A former TV comedian with no experience in government has won the run-off vote in Guatemala’s presidential election.
Jimmy Morales got more than double the votes of ex-first lady Sandra Torres, who is seen by many as part of the country’s unpopular political elite.
Mr Morales campaigned on a promise to fight graft following the resignation and arrest on corruption charges of President Otto Perez Molina last month.
Ms Torres admitted defeat once the margin of Mr Morales’ win was clear.
Mr Morales received 67.4% of the vote and Ms Torres 32.6%. Mr Morales, 46, described his victory as a “brave vote, a vote full of hope, a vote which wants to put an end to corruption”.
Mr Morales is a well-known comedian, who for 14 years starred in a popular TV comedy alongside his brother, Sammy Morales.