Report by Shuchi Giridhar
The results of the Guatemalan elections have been announced. The first round of these elections where held on June 25th. The second round was held on August 20th and the results have been announced.
Who participated?
Around 22 candidates participated in this year’s elections. The candidates are
• UNE -Sandra torres- first lady of Guatemala
• Blue Party – Isaac Farchi – Member of the Congress
• Valor – Zury Ríos –
• Cabal -Edmond Mulet – Head of MINUSTAH
• Todos – Ricardo Sagastume – Minister of Economy
•Vamo – Manuel Conde – Member of the Central American Parliament
• PHG – Rudio Lecsan Mérida – Head of PNC
• Republican Party – Rafael Espada Member of the Central American Parliament
• National Integration Party – Luis Lam Padilla – Ambassador to the United Nations
• Victory – Amílcar Rivera – Mayor of Mixco
• Semilla Bernardo Arévalo – Ambassador to Spain
• FCN Sammy Morales Miguel Ángel Moir
• PPN Rudy Guzmán Diego González
• Republican Union Giulio Talamonti Director of the Penitentiary System
• Winaq Amílcar Pop
• CREO Francisco Arredondo Minister of Public Health
• BIEN Giovanni Reyes Oscar Figueroa
• VIVA Armando Castillo 3rd Vice President of the Congress
• My Family Julio Rivera Clavería Deputy Minister of the Interior
• Change Álvaro Trujillo Baldizón
• VOS Manuel Villacorta Ambassador to Israel
Out of these 22 candidates Sandra Torres of une party and Bernardo Arévalo of Semila were selected for the second round
Who won?
After the second round, Bernardo Arévalo of the Semila party won. He is the son of Juan José Arévalo, the former socialist president. Bernardo Arévalo will take office as the new President of Guatemala on January 14th, 2024.
How are elections conducted in Guatemala?
Guatemala follows the two-round system of election.
This is a voting system that involves two rounds of voting to select the winning candidate. In the first round, voters cast their votes by marking an X on the candidate they like. Out of this the two candidates that get the most votes are selected for the second round.
The candidate that gets most votes is elected.
This voting method is used because in the first round, you vote with your heart and with your head in the second. This means that in the first round you don’t have to think very tactically but with great thought in the second round. Around 40 countries follow this voting method.
Question for you: Where is Guatemala?