News Wire | The Americas Archive

Anticorruption Crusader Wins in Guatemala, in Rebuke to Establishment

By Simon Romero and Jody Garcia | The New York Times

Bernardo Arévalo, a polyglot sociologist from an upstart party made up largely of urban professionals, took 58 percent of the vote with 98 percent of votes counted on Sunday, the electoral authority said. His opponent, Sandra Torres, a former first lady, got 37 percent.

Ecuador Candidate Backed by Correa Will Face Banana Heir in Second Round

By Alexandra Valencia and Julia Symmes Cobb | Reuters

Two former lawmakers, leftist Luisa Gonzalez and business scion Daniel Noboa, will battle for Ecuador's presidency in an October run-off, after coming top in a first round of voting over the weekend.

Guatemalans to Choose Between Political Veteran, Surprise Outsider in Presidential Runoff

By Christopher Sherman | Associated Press

For much of Guatemala’s troubled electoral campaign, authorities seemed determined to limit voters’ options to a range of presidential hopefuls unlikely to shake up a corrupt political system, keeping several candidates seen as threats off the ballot.

More from WPR: Guatemala’s Election Could Sound Democracy’s Death Knell

Ecuadorian Vote Sunday for President After a Campaign Dominated by Demands for Safety

By Regina Garcia Cano | Associated Press

 Ecuadorians will choose a new president Sunday, less than two weeks after the South American country was shaken by the assassination of one of the candidates — a crime that laid bare people’s fears over unprecedented violence in their once-calm nation.

More from WPR: A Surge in Crime and Violence Has Ecuador Reeling