September 2015 Guatemalan vice presidential election

Vice presidential elections were held in Guatemala on September 16, 2015. In April 2015, international prosecutors, with help from the UN, presented evidence of a customs corruption ring ("La Línea") in which discounted tariffs were exchanged for bribes from importers; prosecutors learned of the ring through wiretaps and financial statements.[1] Vice President Roxana Baldetti resigned on 8 May, and was arrested for her involvement on 21 August.[2] On 21 August, Guatemalan prosecutors presented evidence of Pérez's involvement in the corruption ring.[3] Congress, in a 132–0 vote,[3] stripped Pérez Molina of prosecutorial immunity on 1 September 2015, and, on 2 September, he presented his resignation from the Presidency.[1]

September 2015 Guatemalan vice presidential election
September 16, 2015
 
Nominee Alfonso Fuentes Raquel Zelaya
Party Independent Independent
Electoral vote 109 44
Percentage 71.2% 28.7%
Vice President before election

Alejandro Maldonado
Independent

 Elected Vice President

Alfonso Fuentes
Independent

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On 3 September, after a court hearing in which charges and evidence against him were presented, he was arrested and sent to the Matamoros prison in Guatemala City.[1] Vice President Alejandro Maldonado Aguirre was appointed to serve the remainder of Pérez's 4-year term in office (due to end on 14 January 2016).[4]

Alfonso Fuentes Soria was elected Acting Vice President of Guatemala, following the Congress of Guatemala's.[5]

Results
Candidate Party First round Second round Third round
Alfonso Fuentes Soria 79 71 109
Raquel Zelaya 59 75 44
Gabriel Medrano 51 retired retired
No votes 5 5 5
Total 153 153 153

References
  1. Malkin, Elisabeth (3 September 2015). "President Otto Pérez Molina of Guatemala Resigns Amid Scandal". The New York Times.
  2. "Guatemala: ex-Vice-President Baldetti held on fraud charges". BBC. 21 August 2015.
  3. "Guatemala congress taps Alejandro Maldonado Aguirre VP after Roxana Baldetti resigns in wake of customs scandal". New York Daily News. May 14, 2015. Retrieved May 17, 2015.
  4. Miller, Michael E. (3 September 2015). "Guatemalan president resigns after judge orders him to face corruption charges". The Washington Post.
  5. "Guatemala names interim vice president amid political crisis". Inquirer.net. 17 September 2015.
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