Guatemala City, October 26 (teleSUR-RHC)-- Guatemalans have elected a new president: former comedian Jimmy Morales, with 70 percent of the vote -- although in the context of a record abstention rate of almost 63 percent, according to the latest official estimates. 

In his victory speech Sunday night, president-elect Morales said that he would fight against “the corruption that is consuming us.” 

Sandra Torres, his main opponent from the National Unity for Hope, immediately acknowledged her defeat and offered “constructive support.” 

Polling stations throughout Guatemala closed at 6 p.m. Sunday as citizens cast their votes in their country’s presidential elections.  The vote count was publicly displayed on giant screens and started to show the results shorting after the polls closed.

Electoral authorities reported that the election was overall peaceful, and that compared with the first round, less cases of people purchasing votes or organizing transportation to polling stations had been recorded.

The National Police arrested at least 58 people across the country for selling alcohol during the election, violating the “dry law” imposed on that day, according to the EFE news agency.
    
Morales beat Torres in a first round of voting on September 6th in a field of 14 candidates, but fell short of the 50 percent of votes needed to avoid a run-off.

Guatemala is emerging from a political crisis, which culminated in the resignation and arrest of former President Otto Perez Molina on corruption charges.