Guatemala's Presidential Run-Off: Arévalo's Rise and China's Influence
Bernardo Arévalo, the son of Guatemala's first democratically-elected president, has unexpectedly made it to the runoff for president, representing the center-left Semilla party. Arévalo's rise comes as Guatemala faces a slide towards autocracy, with opposition candidates sidelined and a fragmented electorate. He will face the conservative favorite Sandra Torres in the runoff, and his centrist reform agenda focuses on confronting corruption, universalizing social assistance programs, improving healthcare, and addressing security issues. Arévalo's challenge will be to convince disillusioned voters to support him and overcome opposition from political and economic elites.