Analysis-Emergence of Guatemalan anti-graft champion shakes up election

Newspapers are seen at a kiosk a day after the first round of Guatemala's presidential election, in Guatemala City, Guatemala June 26, 2023. REUTERS/Josue Decavele

GUATEMALA CITY (Reuters) -Guatemalans fed up with persistent graft scandals on Sunday catapulted an unheralded anti-corruption candidate into a run-off for the presidency, raising hopes of a renewed drive to clean up the government after years of frustration.

Bernardo Arevalo, an ex-diplomat and son of former president Juan Jose Arevalo, defied poll forecasts to finish as runner-up in the first round of voting in Guatemala's presidential election, throwing a major surprise into what had been written off as a stale election between establishment politicians.