Alexander Aizenstatd News Today

Bernardo Arévalo faces severe obstacles to reform after a chaotic inauguration, but his reputation as a quiet conciliator matches the moment.

The months leading up to anti-corruption crusader Bernardo Arévalo’s inauguration have been marred by prosecutorial attempts to impede him from taking office.

Guatemalans head to the polls on August 20 to vote in a presidential run-off election. Both candidates come from the country’s center-left: Sandra Torres is a veteran campaigner, who has run for president twice before. Bernardo Arévalo leads a relatively new party whose surprisingly strong showing in the first-round vote propelled him into the runoff for the first time.