Guatemala's first couple files for divorce amidst opposition fraud claims

[News_Editor]

Guatemala's first couple files for divorce amidst opposition fraud claims

2011-03-23 02:52:57 GMT+7 (ICT)

GUATEMALA (BNO NEWS) -- A Guatemalan court on Tuesday informed that President Alvaro Colom and first lady Sandra Torres filed for divorce to avoid a constitutional ban amidst opposition fraud claims, Prensa Libre newspaper reported.

Torres is seeking to be the first woman elected as Guatemala's president but the constitution of the Central American country bans close relatives of the incumbent president to join the electoral race.

The move has sparked the opposition's indignation and anger which has labeled it as a fraud and a joke on Guatemala's law. Neither Torres nor Colom have responded to these allegations.

President Colom's UNE party (Unidad Nacional de la Esperanza) approved the divorce request. Lawyers and analysts said that the request is a fraud as both sides have admitted that the divorce was a move to allow Torres as presidential candidate.

According to the ruling coalition UNE-Gana (Gran Alianza Nacional), the first couple decided to file for divorce to avoid "political manipulations" from opposition which seeks to prevent Torres from entering the presidential race.

UNE Secretary-General Jairo Flores said that Torres and Colom made the difficult decision of ending their marriage in the best interests of democracy. Flores added that the first lady is the victim of a vile campaign staged by opposition parties.

President Colom has been criticized for covering up the social programs that Torres managed since the beginning of his government in January 2008. In repeated occasions, Colom assured that he will not divorce in order to allow Torres in the presidential elections as it would be "immoral."

The couple got married in February 2003. It was Colom's third marriage and the second for the current first lady. Opposition and social leaders labeled the divorce request as a simulation and a fraud to the system.

If the divorce is completed, Torres would face opposition candidate Perez Molina, a former army general who has strong support from the Guatemalan population due to his promises to put an end to organized crime.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-03-23

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