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Pro-Business Guatemalan President Sworn In, January 15, 2004

The conservative former mayor of Guatemala, Oscar Berger, was elected President of Guatemala, defeating former President and dictator Efrain Rios Montt, in an election where voter turnout hit record-setting lows. His platform includes reduction of the military role in poltics, printing treasury bonds to release the nation's debt, and using projects to employ labor and expand services to rural areas. He intends to launch an anti-corruption campaign, and ensure a working police force, and fully intends to uphold the UN-brokered peace agreement that declared an end to fighting in Guatemala's 30 year conflict against insurgent leftist guerillas. President Berger has not yet made it clear whether he intends to press charges against former President Montt for atrocities comitted in that conflict, whose term expiration also means an end to immunity from prosecution.


News Stories:

"Guatemala Swears in New President "
New York Times January 15, 2004
"Guatemala Swears in New President "
Yahoo! News January 15, 2004
"Guatemala victor calls for unity "
BBC World (UK) December 30, 2003
"Oscar Berger Leads Guatemalan Presidential Vote "
Channel News Asia December 29, 2003
"Conservative ex-mayor wins Guatemalan presidential election "
CNN.com December 29, 2003

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January 15, 2004