(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Many people in Guatemala expect their new president to bring positive change to the Central American country, according to a poll by Borge y Asociados published in El Periódico. 46.9 per cent of respondents expect Guatemala’s situation to improve under Álvaro Colom, while 28.8 per cent believe things will stay the same.

Guatemalan voters elected a new president in November 2007. Final results gave Colom of the left-leaning National Union of Hope (UNE) 52.82 per cent of the vote. His run-off contender, Otto Pérez Molina of the right-leaning Patriot Party (PP), finished second with 47.18 per cent of all cast ballots.

Colom expressed satisfaction on election night, declaring, "The change that our country waited for during 50 years begins today. Guatemala is a magical country, one that deserves a different destiny, so that equality, solidarity and social justice reign forever."

Earlier this month, Colom unveiled his cabinet and discussed the tasks at hand, saying, "The system has collapsed and is inefficient. Our work will focus on strategic areas that we need to get going quickly."

Polling Data

Do you expect the country’s situation to improve, stay the same, or worsen under the next government?

Source: Borge y Asociados / El Periódico
Methodology: Interviews with 1,008 Guatemalan adults, conducted in December 2007. Margin of error is 3.2 per cent.

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