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Political outsider Jimmy Morales confirmed as Guatemala's president-elect

Xinhua, October 27, 2015 Adjust font size:

Political newcomer Jimmy Morales is Guatemala's president-elect, the Supreme Electoral Court (TSE) confirmed Monday.

Morales, the candidate of the opposition National Convergence Front (FCN), won Sunday's runoff with 2,750,847 votes, or 67.44 percent.

Rival and former First Lady Sandra Torres, of the National Unity of Hope (UNE) party, garnered 1,328,381, or 32.56 percent.

The court has yet to officially declare a winner as the law allows five days for the results to be contested.

TSE's president, Marlon Pineda, said at a press conference that 100 percent of the votes had been tabulated and expressed confidence in the electoral system.

"We can trust the results as certain, due to the specialized system of the TSE," said Pineda.

A comedian, actor and businessman, Morales will be sworn in on Jan. 14 for a four-year term. He will take over from interim president Alejandro Maldonado, who was designated by congress after President Otto Perez Molina was forced out of office on Sept. 2 on corruption charges.

More than half of Guatemala's 7.5 million eligible voters, 56.32 percent, turned out to vote, despite heavy rains in parts of the country, said Pineda.

Late Sunday, Torres acknowledged her defeat while Morales celebrated with supporters.

"Thank you Guatemala!" he said via Twitter. Endite