Female candidates eye Guatemala’s presidency

Significance

Three female candidates lead the polls at this point. However, all three face legal challenges to their candidacies, raising the prospect that some may be barred before June. With corruption set to be the key electoral issue, all presidential hopefuls will strive to present themselves as the cleanest candidate as campaigning kicks off in earnest.

Impacts

• The election of an anti-corruption candidate could pave the way for the CICIG’s mandate to be reinstated.
• A new president would enable a reset of relations with Washington, which is becoming increasingly critical of the Morales administration.
• The new administration could halt controversial proposed legal changes to allow amnesties for civil war human rights abusers.