Former first lady Sandra Torres has won a clear victory in the first round of Guatemala's presidential election, but the centre-left candidate faces a tough test to see off her nearest conservative rival in a direct runoff in August.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
With votes tallied from 98 per cent of polling stations, preliminary results from Sunday's election gave Torres 25.7 per cent of the vote.
Following was conservative Alejandro Giammattei with 13.92 per cent, the electoral tribunal said.
Torres said on Monday she would work to forge alliances to win the runoff, which is due to be held on August 11.
The national vote was split between 19 contenders.
"The country needs unity: To unite the countryside with the city, to unite the workers with the business community, and also in civil society, in all sectors," Torres told reporters.
The next president faces the daunting task of curbing drug gang violence that has ravaged Guatemala and helped spur illegal immigration to the US, souring relations with President Donald Trump.
Torres has for weeks led the race to succeed President Jimmy Morales, a conservative former television host whose term has been blighted by accusations of corruption.
She has pledged to send troops into the streets to fight drug gangs, and use welfare programs to tackle poverty.
But the former wife of ex-president Alvaro Colom also has high negative ratings, and faces a real test to win a direct runoff if conservative voters unite against her.
Australian Associated Press
