Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07GUATEMALA1806
2007-09-10 13:52:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Guatemala
Cable title:
COLOM LEADS PEREZ MOLINA IN FIRST-ROUND ELECTION
how-toVZCZCXYZ0033 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHGT #1806 2531352 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 101352Z SEP 07 FM AMEMBASSY GUATEMALA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3789 INFO RUEHGT/WHA DIPL POSTS COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RHMFISS/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL IMMEDIATE RHMFISS/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL//SCJ2-JIC-IRD/OPSD// IMMEDIATE RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC IMMEDIATE RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE
C O N F I D E N T I A L GUATEMALA 001806
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR WHA/CEN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/10/2017
TAGS: PGOV PINR KDEM ASEC GT
SUBJECT: COLOM LEADS PEREZ MOLINA IN FIRST-ROUND ELECTION
REF: A. A) GUATEMALA 1785
B. B) GUATEMALA 1734
Classified By: DCM David Lindwall for reasons 1.4 (b&d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L GUATEMALA 001806
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR WHA/CEN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/10/2017
TAGS: PGOV PINR KDEM ASEC GT
SUBJECT: COLOM LEADS PEREZ MOLINA IN FIRST-ROUND ELECTION
REF: A. A) GUATEMALA 1785
B. B) GUATEMALA 1734
Classified By: DCM David Lindwall for reasons 1.4 (b&d).
1. (U) With 92.3% of polling stations reporting, center-left
candidate Alvaro Colom of the UNE leads center-right
candidate Otto Perez Molina of the Patriot Party. The two
now advance to a runoff, to be held Nov. 4. At 0654 on
September 10, the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) reported
the following preliminary results for the presidential
election:
UNE, Colom: 28.4%
PP, Perez Molina: 24.1%
GANA, Giammattei: 17.2%
CASA, Suger: 7.4%
FRG, Rabbe: 7.2%
EG, Menchu: 3%
These results track almost exactly with those of national
observer "Mirador Electoral's" quick count. Voter
participation appears to have been about 58%, up one point
from 2003. The OAS Observation Mission (to which EMBASSY
contributed 15 teams) and "Mirador Electoral" congratulated
the TSE on the organization of the elections, which entailed
nearly doubling the previous number of polling stations, to
13,756. All polling stations opened, and the great majority
opened on time. Rioters burned ballots at three locations,
down from six in 2003. One person was killed in rioting.
There were isolated instances of fraud, vote buying, and
voter intimidation that did not affect the outcome of the
national elections. Popular Guatemala City Mayor and former
President Alvaro Arzu won re-election with 55% of the vote.
2. (U) With 70% of the vote for congressional elections
counted, the TSE's preliminary count is as follows:
UNE: 22.3%
PP: 16.8%
GANA: 16.4%
FRG: 9.6%
EG: 6.7%
PU: 6.4%
CASA: 5.7%
3. (C) Comment: It has long been clear that Colom and Perez
Molina would advance to the second round. However,
Giammattei, Suger, and Rabbe garnered more of the first-round
votes than expected. The outcome of the runoff presidential
election will be determined in large part by those voters
whose first-round candidates did not advance to the second
round. The first-round elections were better organized and
less violent than many observers anticipated would be the
case.
Derham
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR WHA/CEN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/10/2017
TAGS: PGOV PINR KDEM ASEC GT
SUBJECT: COLOM LEADS PEREZ MOLINA IN FIRST-ROUND ELECTION
REF: A. A) GUATEMALA 1785
B. B) GUATEMALA 1734
Classified By: DCM David Lindwall for reasons 1.4 (b&d).
1. (U) With 92.3% of polling stations reporting, center-left
candidate Alvaro Colom of the UNE leads center-right
candidate Otto Perez Molina of the Patriot Party. The two
now advance to a runoff, to be held Nov. 4. At 0654 on
September 10, the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) reported
the following preliminary results for the presidential
election:
UNE, Colom: 28.4%
PP, Perez Molina: 24.1%
GANA, Giammattei: 17.2%
CASA, Suger: 7.4%
FRG, Rabbe: 7.2%
EG, Menchu: 3%
These results track almost exactly with those of national
observer "Mirador Electoral's" quick count. Voter
participation appears to have been about 58%, up one point
from 2003. The OAS Observation Mission (to which EMBASSY
contributed 15 teams) and "Mirador Electoral" congratulated
the TSE on the organization of the elections, which entailed
nearly doubling the previous number of polling stations, to
13,756. All polling stations opened, and the great majority
opened on time. Rioters burned ballots at three locations,
down from six in 2003. One person was killed in rioting.
There were isolated instances of fraud, vote buying, and
voter intimidation that did not affect the outcome of the
national elections. Popular Guatemala City Mayor and former
President Alvaro Arzu won re-election with 55% of the vote.
2. (U) With 70% of the vote for congressional elections
counted, the TSE's preliminary count is as follows:
UNE: 22.3%
PP: 16.8%
GANA: 16.4%
FRG: 9.6%
EG: 6.7%
PU: 6.4%
CASA: 5.7%
3. (C) Comment: It has long been clear that Colom and Perez
Molina would advance to the second round. However,
Giammattei, Suger, and Rabbe garnered more of the first-round
votes than expected. The outcome of the runoff presidential
election will be determined in large part by those voters
whose first-round candidates did not advance to the second
round. The first-round elections were better organized and
less violent than many observers anticipated would be the
case.
Derham