Second run off vote likely in Guatemala Presidential election

(Vatican Radio) A comedy actor is leading Guatemala's Presidential Election.  A second round runoff next month, due to a low turn out,  prompted by a a corruption scandal, is likely.

Listen to this report by James Blears

Guatemala is still reeling from a Customs scandal which has seen Vice President Roxanna Baldetti and President Otto Perez Molina resign, been arrested and jailed awaiting  further legal proceedings.  

 The latest Presidential election exit polls data,  puts comedy actor Jimmy Morales margianlly ahead of business tycoon Manuel Baldizon.  No one is going to come close to fifty percent of the vote to win ourtright  in round one.  So enevitably round two will be on October 25th, when alliances and deals will be struck for a single victor, who'll be inaugurated the next President in January.   

Caretaker President Alejandro Maldonado insists: "People must use their votes to punish candidates who deceive them."
In 2011's Presidential Election turnout was almost 70 percent. With the direction the political wind is gusting, twenty percent less than that now , would be an accurate estimate.