Bernardo Arevalo has won a surprising landslide victory in the presidential contest in Guatemala, raising hopes among people to end corruption and authoritarianism. The outgoing president, Alejandro Giammattei, congratulated Arevalo and looked forward to an ordered transition. Arevalo defeated former First Lady Sandra Torres. Arevalo is the son of a former president. He promised to end corruption and violence.

Over the years, many people who fought corruption in the government – lawyers, judges, activists – had to flee the country. The harsh economic and political conditions in the country has driven thousands of Guatemalans to flee the country and seek entry into the United States.

There have been attempts to create hurdles in the way of Aravelo, trying to disqualify him from contesting the election. But the Supreme Court had reversed the decision. “This victory belongs to the people of Guatemala and now, united as the Guatemalan people, we will fight against the corruption,” said Arevalo in his post-victory speech.

This electoral victory of Arevalo comes in the face of entrenched political forces. The foreign election observers of the Organisation of American States (OAS) had said that the elections were fair. Many Guatemalans are sceptical whether Arevalo would be able to succeed in his anti-corruption drive because the corrupt are not going to yield place easily. “The country Bernardo Arevalo will be receiving is very complicated,” said Ana Maria Mendez, director for Central America at think-tank Washington Office on Latin America. She also observed, “I see it as more a transition government, to restore the democratic values that have been broken in Guatemala.”

In a candid remark, Arevalo said that he would want to expand Guatemala’s relations with China, and at the same continue with the ties with Taiwan. This appears to be a difficult task because China is now insisting that he would want to pursue a foreign policy that is in conflict with that of the United States, and that Arevalo will pursue a left-wing policy which is directed against the conservatives in the country.

It has been the tradition that the US has supported the conservative establishments in small central American countries like Nicaragua, Honduras and Guatemala. This would make things difficult for Arevalo in dealing with the situation at home. He would be facing a hostile legislature where the conservatives still have a hold, and it would be difficult for Arevalo to get through the anti-graft legislation which he would want to.

The sense of joy felt among many Guatemalans at the election of Arevalo is heartfelt because for years it seemed that it was impossible to shake the corrupt establishment because they controlled everything. Arevalo is like a breath of fresh air, and there has appeared a glimmer of hope on the country’s political horizon. Jhamy Lucas, 27, said, “I am so happy because I am going to be able to live in my country. I’m not going to have to migrate to survive.”

It is surprising that wherever democracy is given a fair chance, people elect a person who is opposed to corruption in government. When it seemed that Guatemalans would have no alternative but to choose between the corrupt leaders, there comes a new candidate with the promise of a better future. And that is exactly what Arevalo has done. He has revived hope among Guatemalans. The victory of Arevalo is an affirmation of the fact that the people’s choice is best reflected in a fair election, and that the people always voted against the corrupt and those who unleashed violence in society. The Guatemalans are looking to a brighter tomorrow. And they have achieved this through the ballot.