September 2015 Guatemalan vice presidential election

Vice presidential elections were held in Guatemala on September 16, 2015. In April 2015, international prosecutors, with help from the UN, presented evidence of a customs corruption ring ("La Línea") in which discounted tariffs were exchanged for bribes from importers; prosecutors learned of the ring through wiretaps and financial statements.[1] Vice President Roxana Baldetti resigned on 8 May, and was arrested for her involvement on 21 August.[2] On 21 August, Guatemalan prosecutors presented evidence of Pérez's involvement in the corruption ring.[3] Congress, in a 132–0 vote,[3] stripped Pérez Molina of prosecutorial immunity on 1 September 2015, and, on 2 September, he presented his resignation from the Presidency.[1]

September 2015 Guatemalan vice presidential election

← 2015 September 16, 2015
 
Nominee Alfonso Fuentes Raquel Zelaya
Party Independent Independent
Electoral vote 109 44
Percentage 71.2% 28.7%

Vice President before election

Alejandro Maldonado
Independent

Elected Vice President

Alfonso Fuentes
Independent

On 3 September, after a court hearing in which charges and evidence against him were presented, he was arrested and sent to the Matamoros prison in Guatemala City.[1] Vice President Alejandro Maldonado Aguirre was appointed to serve the remainder of Pérez's 4-year term in office (due to end on 14 January 2016).[4]

Alfonso Fuentes Soria was elected Acting Vice President of Guatemala, following the Congress of Guatemala's.[5]

Results edit

Candidate Party First round Second round Third round
Alfonso Fuentes Soria 79 71 109
Raquel Zelaya 59 75 44
Gabriel Medrano 51 retired retired
No votes 5 5 5
Total 153 153 153

References edit

  1. ^ a b c Malkin, Elisabeth (3 September 2015). "President Otto Pérez Molina of Guatemala Resigns Amid Scandal". The New York Times.
  2. ^ "Guatemala: ex-Vice-President Baldetti held on fraud charges". BBC. 21 August 2015.
  3. ^ a b "Guatemala congress taps Alejandro Maldonado Aguirre VP after Roxana Baldetti resigns in wake of customs scandal". New York Daily News. May 14, 2015. Retrieved May 17, 2015.
  4. ^ Miller, Michael E. (3 September 2015). "Guatemalan president resigns after judge orders him to face corruption charges". The Washington Post.
  5. ^ "Guatemala names interim vice president amid political crisis". Inquirer.net. 17 September 2015.