The victory of conservative candidate Oscar Berger over left-wing opponent Alvaro Colom in Guatemala’s run-off presidential election December 27 may be good for the Bush administration and big business but is disappointing for Guatemala’s rural poor. Berger, of the Grand National Alliance, received just more than 54 percent of the vote to Colom’s 46 percent, completing an electoral process that… return to article
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Reader Comments (4)Page 1 of 1 pagesI disagree with the opinion of Georgina Martinez (the Colom Supporter), for the reason that the last government, leadered under the scenes by Efran Rios Montt, just sunked us more than anyone ever did, and if they are of course in Colom’s side, why they would tell something good about the competitor. You have to ask opinions to an apolitical person.
Life has changed in Guatemala this las four years. And the work that’s beeing done, since Berger came in, it looks promising.
Colom on the other side, instead of saying NO to working with Berger, he should have thought about that 1 million he represents...and worked for them in the government, not letting them alone (since he represents the leader of the group).
Also it seems Guatemala is not a country in development process (3rd world, on old times). Making numbers 45% of 5 million voters, voted, and 54% elected Berger, so 5,000,000 * (57/100) * (45/100), we have 1,282,500 (aprox.) rich people...awesome!
I work as a software developer in the government and i have to support my country, not leaving it all alone, just because i disagree with my neighbor.
Posted by jose luis chavez del cid on Jan 27, 2004 at 7:21 PM A few thoughts on Daniel Hughes„s article:
- The electoral process did not stall - it is a two stage process, as used in many countries, and was designed to allow a second run off should there be no overall (50%+1 vote) victor in the first round. Therefore, the voting pattern showed that the process is running as intended.
- US-Guatemala free trade negotiations have been going on for the last few years, and have come to fruition in the last months (ie CAFTA), in spite of the previous Portillo government. Although it may be fair to say that the current Berger administration is more free-trade than the previous government, negotionations were not “on-hold”.
- Rigoberta Menchu, the famed Nobel prize winner, has accepted a position in the Berger government.
- The current administration is making significant steps in reinvigorating the process to implement the peace accords.
- Looking at the situation from a completely apolitical perspective, one has to see that EVEN IF Berger is following private sector interests, this is not always bad for “the poor”. Main private sector interests include security, tourism promotion, trade-liberalisation, privatisation WHERE APPROPRIATE, and environmental improvement schemes. These sound like policies that would benefit all levels of society.
Berger and his new government are a complete breath of fresh air for Guatemala. It has now become a country full of optimism, in all levels of society - for the last 4 years, it was a country that constantly had every reason to be disappointed in its leaders.
Posted by rt on Jan 28, 2004 at 9:08 AM Dear sirs:
I would like to know, what this goverment is offering for the country and i would like to read a story on this issue, what people are expecting from this goverment, and what are the most probable outcome of this goverment;s success. thank you.
sicerely yours. kurt
Posted by kurt Coburger on Feb 17, 2004 at 9:14 PM Page 1 of 1 pages -
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