December 16, 2006

Abstract: (ARGM) - Few adults in Guatemala have chosen a contender before next year's presidential election, according to a poll by Vox Latina published in Prensa Libre. Only 16.2 per cent of respondents have decided which candidate they will vote for.

(ARGM) - Few adults in Guatemala have chosen a contender before next year's presidential election, according to a poll by Vox Latina published in Prensa Libre. Only 16.2 per cent of respondents have decided which candidate they will vote for.

Óscar Berger won the December 2003 presidential election as the candidate for the conservative Grand National Alliance (GANA), defeating Álvaro Colom of the leftist National Union of Hope (UNE) in a run-off with 54.13 per cent of all cast ballots.

The next presidential election is scheduled for November 2007. Berger is constitutionally barred from seeking a new term in office.

The list of prospective candidates includes Colom, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Rigoberta Menchú, Otto Pérez Molina of the Patriot Party (PP), Luis Flores Asturias of the National Advancement Party (PAN), Fritz García Gallont of the Unionist Party (PU) and Nineth Montenegro of Encounter for Guatemala (EPG).

Earlier this month, nine Guatemalan mayors offered their support to Colom, in exchange for a spot in the leftist party's congressional list. Chuarrancho mayor Jorge Punay explained the situation, saying, "We were insulted, because we gave GANA 1,500 affiliated members and now they want to hold primary elections. Our communication lines with them are dead. We will leave."

Polling Data

Have you decided which candidate you will vote for in the next presidential election?

Yes	16.2%
No	75.6%

Source: Vox Latina / Prensa Libre
Methodology: Interviews with 1,200 Guatemalan adults, conducted from Nov. 16 to Nov. 24, 2006. Margin of error is 4.8 per cent.