Guatemala: Jimmy Morales leads way in presidential elections

Jimmy Morales, the Guatemalan presidential candidate, spoke after his initial success had been announced following the first vote in the ongoing election, stating the recent protests occurred due to the fact that "people grew weary of politicians," in Guatemala City on Monday. Morales, a comic actor, is running on a strict anti-corruption platform. So far Morales and his National Front of Convergence (FCN-Nacion) party have 25 percent of the vote, with Manuel Baldizon, a centre-right businessman, on 21 percent. If no candidate acquires more than half the vote, which is expected by experts and polls, a second round will be held on October 25. The voting began on Sunday, three days after the resignation of the previous Guatemalan President Otto Perez. The former president has been imprisoned, following accusations that he of conceived a scheme in which businessmen paid brides in order to avoid customs charges. He denies involvement.