GUATEMALA-ELECTIONS/BALDIZON PROFILE Guatemala presidential candidate Manuel Baldizon says he will battle corruption if elected

Record ID: 141961

  • Title: GUATEMALA-ELECTIONS/BALDIZON PROFILE Guatemala presidential candidate Manuel Baldizon says he will battle corruption if elected
  • Date: 4th September 2015
  • Summary: ESCUINTLA, GUATEMALA (FILE - 2011) (REUTERS) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE FROM LIDER PARTY, MANUEL BALDIZON, DURING RALLY IN 2011, WITH LIDER PARTY MEMBERS BALDIZON ARRIVING AT RALLY AND WAVING AT SUPPORTERS SUPPORTERS WITH POSTERS IN SUPPORT OF BALDIZON AND HIS THEN RUNNING MATE, RAQUEL BLANDON BALDIZON ON PODIUM WITH WIFE, ROSA MARIA VARGAS SUPPORTERS AT RALLY BADIZON GIVING S
  • Embargoed: 19th September 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVADJIJJU5IAZ82Y66GS9CHFJ1AK
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Guatemala on Sunday (September 6) will hold presidential elections plunged into crisis by corruption scandals that led to the resignation this week of President Otto Perez Molina, who will be investigated as the alleged leader of a network of customs fraud.
    Polls predict that elections will go to a runoff on October 25 because no candidate has obtained 50 percent needed to win in the first round.
    The candidate from the Renewed Democratic Liberation (LIDER) party, a centre-right lawyer and businessman runs in his second attempt to win the presidency of the largest country in Central America.
    Baldizon, 45, lost in 2011 against Perez. In the campaign he has tried to take advantage of the downfall of Perez.
    The now ex-president was jailed on Thursday (September 03) while a judge weighs charging him in a corruption scandal that gutted his government and plunged the country into a political crisis days before a presidential election. Prosecutors allege he was involved in a customs scam dubbed "La Linea" ("The Line"), referring to a phone hotline used by importers to avoid paying customs duties in exchange for bribes.
    "I am in favour of CICIG (United Nations' International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala) and would like to strengthen it with the utmost care so that they can do a thorough investigation and so there is a sharing of information with our research body and public prosecutor. There should also be the transfer of case data so we can have a shared objective as a team to save Guatemala from this scourge (corruption) that is now a cancer that attacks Guatemala," Baldizon said after Congress withdrew immunity to Perez Molina.
    Baldizon said he agreed on receiving help from the United States to tackle corruption.
    "I totally agree with receiving support from the United States. I recognise that they have been our best ally in the history of the nation and today more than ever I am convinced that we must strengthen the ties of friendship and together to fight against corruption," Baldizon said.
    But the same Baldizon has suffered from anti-corruption investigations. In July, his running mate, Edgar Barquin, was indicted by the International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG) which is backed by the United Nations and the Public Ministry, to block money laundering investigations, when he was president of the central bank (2010-2014).
    Baldizon, who was elected deputy Vice President in 2003 and in 2007 by other political parties, was accused last year of plagiarism in his book "Breaking Paradigms," when it was already in bookstores. The book contained quotes from websites and Spanish philosopher Fernando Savater, which he attributed as his own.
    The politician had to apologise and withdraw his book from bookstores. He was also criticised in the media for allegedly plagiarising his doctoral thesis at the University of San Carlos.
    On another note, Baldizon's said a solution to Guatemalans leaving en masse for the United States is connected to giving them incentives to stay home.
    "I will press to encourage more investment to help us create jobs because we are also responsible for emigration of Guatemalans onto the United States. It is not only the United States's fault when they deport them as we are also responsible for not generating jobs because we do not give our people the opportunity to have a decent job (here). It would help us a lot if we help attracting investment, create jobs," Baldizon said.
    Always neatly combed and with glasses, the candidate defends the death penalty to combat crime and is also a fervent evangelist. On his website, quotes from the Bible abound.
    Baldizon proposes an agreement to improve tax collection and more austerity and efficiency in public spending. He also proposes a political and legal reform of the state for its modernisation.
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