Conservative Ex-Mayor Confirmed as President

The conservative ex-mayor of Guatemala’s capital easily defeated his moderate opponent in a presidential runoff election, voting officials confirmed. Oscar Berger, who was declared winner with 54% of the vote, has pledged to create jobs, stamp out corruption and beat back rising crime rates.

Berger, mayor of Guatemala City from 1990 until 1999, defeated center-leftist Alvaro Colom in the runoff, which was peaceful and orderly. The 1,000 Guatemalan and international observers on hand reported almost no violence or incidents of fraud.