COUNTRY	Republic of Guatemala
ELECTION TYPE	Presidential
DATE	November 9, 2003

• The office of the president in the Republic of Guatemala.

• Chief of State & Head of Government: President Alfonso Antonion PORTILLO Cabrera
• Assembly: Guatemala has a unicameral Congress of the Republic (Congresso de la Republica) which consists of 113 seats.

• The president is elected by popular vote to serve a four-year term.
• Of the 113 members of the Congress of the Republic, 91are elected from multi-member constituencies while 22 are elected through proportional representation from a national party list.

• Presidential Candidate: Oscar Jose Rafael BERGER Perdomo*
  Party: Grand National Alliance** (GANA)
  Valid Votes Received: 1,228,871
  Percent of Valid Votes Received: 54.10%

Note: GANA consists of the the Partido Patriota, Movimiento Reformador, Partido Solidardidad Nacional

• Presidential Candidate: Alvaro COLOM Caballeros*
  Party: National Unity for Hope (UNE)
  Valid Votes Received: 1,042,746
  Percent of Valid Votes Received: 45.90%
  
  

• Presidential Candidate: Oscar Jose Rafael BERGER Perdomo*
  Party: Grand National Alliance** (GANA)
  Valid Votes Received: 903,343
  Percent of Valid Votes Received: 34.46%

Note: GANA consists of the the Partido Patriota, Movimiento Reformador, Partido Solidardidad Nacional

• Presidential Candidate: Alvaro COLOM Caballeros*
  Party: National Unity for Hope (UNE)
  Valid Votes Received: 694,082
  Percent of Valid Votes Received: 26.48%
  
  
• Presidential Candidate: Jose Efrain RIOS Montt
  Party: Guatemalan Republic Front (FRG)
  Valid Votes Received: 503,679
  Percent of Valid Votes Received: 19.22%
  
  
• Presidential Candidate: Leonel Eliseo LOPEZ Rodas
  Party: National Advancement Party (PAN)
  Valid Votes Received: 218,429
  Percent of Valid Votes Received: 8.33%
  
  
• Presidential Candidate: Friederich Garcia-Gallont BISCHOF
  Party: Unionista Party (PU)
  Valid Votes Received: 79,726
  Percent of Valid Votes Received: 3.04%
  
  
• Presidential Candidate: Rodrigo Asturias AMADO
  Party: Guatemalan National Revolutionary Unity (URNG)
  Valid Votes Received: 67,171
  Percent of Valid Votes Received: 2.56%
  
  
• Presidential Candidate: Jose Eduardo SUGER Cofiño
  Party: Authentic Integral Development (DIA)
  Valid Votes Received: 58,113
  Percent of Valid Votes Received: 2.22%
  
  
• Presidential Candidate: Manuel Eduardo Conde ORELLANA
  Party: Movimiento Social y Politico Cambio Nacional
  Valid Votes Received: 10,425
  Percent of Valid Votes Received: 0.40%

*NOTE: BERGER and COLOM will advance to the second round of elections on December 28, 2003.

• The last presidential election was held on November 7, 1999 with a run off held on December 26, 1999. In the second round, Alfonso Antonio PORTILLO Cabrera of the Guatemlan Republican Front (FRG) won the presidency by securing 68% of the votes against Oscar BERGER Perdomo of the National Advancement Party (PAN) who had 32% of the votes.

• Population: 13,909,384 (July 2003 estimate)
• Number of registered voters: 5,073,282

• On July 14, the Constitutional Court allowed former General Efrain Rios MONTT to run as a presidential candidate for the Guatemalan Republic Front (FRG). His candidacy led to protests by both human rights groups and indigenous communities, claiming that he was responsible for several genocide events in the early 1980s.
• One of the major concerns surrounding the presidential elections was the violence.
• A 50% majority is required for a candidate to secure the presidency. In the event that this provision is not met, a run off is scheduled on December 28th.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: IFES ELECTIONGUIDE ONLINE