GUATEMALAN GENERAL ELECTION, 2003

(Redirected from Guatemalan election, 2003)

A 'General Election' was held in Guatemala on 9 November 2003. Voters went to the polls to elect a new President (and Vice-President), a new legislature (deputies for the unicameral ''Congreso de la República''), municipal governments, and Guatemala's deputies to the Central American Parliament.

Contents

Presidential Election

National Summary of Voting

Legislative election

Presidential Election

The ruling Republican Front of Guatemala (FRG) nominated former military ruler Efraín Ríos Montt to succeed outgoing president Alfonso Portillo Cabrera. A constitutional ban on former coup leaders (Ríos Montt during 1982-83) led to strong conflict inside the country, including the besiegement of Guatemala for a day: 24 July 2003, known as ''jueves negro'' ("Black Thursday"). In the first round of voting, Ríos Montt came third behind the centrist mayor of Guatemala City, Óscar Berger, and the more left-wing candidate Álvaro Colom.
Since no candidate secured an absolute majority in this first round, a run-off vote between the top two candidates was held on 28 December, which Berger won with 54% of the votes.

National Summary of Voting

Legislative election