Rigoberta Menchú and Nineth Montenegro  Photo: Siglo XXI

Rigoberta Menchú, Winaq, and Nineth Montenegro, Encuentro Por Guatemala, have come to an agreement that sees Menchú heading up the political grouping as Presidential candidate. When Siglo XXI asked Nineth Montenegro whether she was concerned about possible racism, machistas or discrimination in the campaign to come, she said:

“No responderé porque soy una mujer de paz; los extremos matan las ilusiones, y lo más importante es sembrar la unidad. No vamos a responder a provocaciones. No tengo miedo a los fantasmas; esperamos ser un ejemplo de armonía”, enfatizó.

According the latest (13-02-07) Angus-Reid Global Monitor- the current Presidential candidates are shaping up as follows:

Álvaro Colom (UNE)  43%
Otto Pérez Molina (PP)  18%
Alejandro Giammatei (GANA)  5%
Fritz García Gallont (PU)  4%

There are other candidates that are making less waves in the media- but say a lot about the political bases they might represent. Luis Rabbé has just agreed to be the FRG's Presidential candidate. Rabbé's reputation precedes him. Nicaragua based 'Revista Envío' described Rabbé's time in government under Portillo in the following terms:

“Notisiete's editorial policy under the Portillo government has generally been to support the FRG's interests. Its owner, Angel González, who also has TV stations in several other Latin America countries, lives in Miami, but his brother-in-law, Luis Rabbé, has ties to the army—his brother is a colonel— and was appointed minister of communications, infrastructure and housing in 2000 after an unsuccessful run for mayor of Guatemala City the previous year. Though Rabbé was removed in 2001 for incompetence and such strong evidence of corruption that the US Embassy cancelled his visa, he is running once again as the FRG's candidate for mayor of the country's capital.”

Another ex-FRG government minister poised to be a Presidential candidate is Édgar Gutiérrez with the Frente por la Democracia. Gutiérrez has reportedly been in talks with Winaq about possibly working closely with Menchú on political strategy. In Informe Guatemala the online publication Gutiérrez edits said:

“En El Frente, que lidera Alfonso Cabrera, Edgar Gutiérrez, ex canciller de la República, fue nominado tras las consultas de febrero como su candidato. A la par de Gutiérrez se valoró la figura del sociólogo y político Miguel Ángel Reyes.”

A week, as they say, is a long time in politics anywhere…

Postscript

The BBC have covered the news on Menchú's candidacy. Blogger Jason Kennedy 'King Felix' tells the story of how he helped the BBC sub the article online. More power to the blogger's elbow…

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