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Unpopular pair seek presidency in corruption-weary Guatemala

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AFP Guatemala City
Last Updated : Aug 11 2019 | 11:25 AM IST

More than eight million Guatemalans head to the polls on Sunday as former first lady Sandra Torres and opinion poll frontrunner Alejandro Giammattei bid to succeed the corruption-tainted Jimmy Morales as president.

Corruption was the main issue leading up to the first round of elections in June -- which Torres topped -- but that has been superseded by a political scandal over a controversial migration deal with the United States.

Neither candidate arrives with a glowing reputation, both having failed in previous bids for the presidency.

The centre-left Torres, whose ex-husband Alvaro Colom was president from 2008-12, has been suspected of involvement in corruption before.

Influential businessman Dionisio Gutierrez recently described her as "a questionable politician with a history that should worry any citizen."
Guatemala's human rights ombudsman Jordan Rodas questioned its legality while Amnesty International described it as "cruel and illegal."

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First Published: Aug 11 2019 | 11:25 AM IST

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