Guatemala voters send 2 presidential candidates on opposite sides of political spectrum to a runoff

By SONIA PÉREZ D. and CHRISTOPHER SHERMAN
Associated Press

GUATEMALA CITY (AP) — Guatemalans have sent two presidential candidates from opposite sides of the political spectrum to an Aug. 20 runoff, giving hope to many disenchanted voters that change may be possible. With 98% of the votes counted from Sunday’s election, the Supreme Electoral Tribunal says that former first lady Sandra Torres for the conservative UNE party has 15.7% and Bernardo Arévalo of the leftist Seed Movement has 11.8%. The other 20 presidential candidates are much lower. The two leaders are far below the 50% threshold needed to win the first round. The president of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal said at a news conference Monday that the results were “practically unchangeable.”