Guatemala presidential candidate drops out of race

Guatemalan presidential candidate Manuel Baldizon quit his political party and dropped out of the race on Monday, leaving a television comedian and former first lady to vie in the runoff to be  Guatemala’s next president

With 99.1 percent of votes counted from elections on Sept. 6, Baldizon was in third place, trailing leftist former first lady Sandra Torres by about 6,000 votes.

Baldizon said he would step down as head of the Renewed Democratic Liberty (Lider) party, ending his presidential bid, since Guatemalan law forbids candidates from running without party support.

Comic actor Jimmy Morales’ anti-corruption message resonated with voters after a graft scandal felled President Otto Perez Molina, won easily, but he did not secure the 50 percent of votes needed to head off a second round of voting on Oct. 25. Morales has never held office.

Baldizon told Radio Sonora that he could not endorse the electoral process and said the results "lacked legitimacy." He said he wouldn't throw his support behind either of the other two.

Baldizon, who lost to Perez Molina in 2011, was considered the front-runner and likely next president until the fall of Perez Molina, who resigned Sept. 3 and is now in jail suspected of involvement in a fraud scandal involving bribes funneled to a chain of officials who helped businesses evade import duties. 

Balidizon was considered the establishment candidate, and his dramatic loss was attributed to voter anger with the status quo.

Guatemala’s new President Alejandro Maldonado demanded as he was sworn in on Sept. 3 that all top government officials submit their resignations and promised an honest and inclusive administration.

Al Jazeera with wire services