Guatemala swore in its new president, Unidad Nacional de la Esperanza's social democrat Alvaro Colom, on Jan. 14. The country's deep-rooted problems of crime and poverty will make it hard for Colom to deliver short-term results.
Guatemala swore in its new president, Unidad Nacional de la Esperanza’s social democrat Alvaro Colom, on Jan. 14. Colom, the country’s first leftist president in more than 50 years, is promising a broad social agenda that includes building housing and improving medical services. Colom also wants to address Guatemala’s severe crime problem; with more than 16 murders a day, Guatemala is one of Latin America’s most violent countries.
However, in spite of Colom’s intentions, the situation in Guatemala will make it hard for him to deliver short-term results.