Guatemala Elects Comedian With Zero Political Experience As President

Jimmy Morales emerges victorious in Guatemala's recent presidential election despite his zero political experience.

The former TV comedian beat center-left rival and former first lady Sandra Torres with a landslide vote of 68 percent in Sunday's presidential election, Reuters reported. Morales is with the center-right National Convergence Front (FCN) party.

"As president I received a mandate, and the mandate of the people of Guatemala is to fight against the corruption that is consuming us," Morales said as results came in on Sunday night, as quoted by Reuters.

On Monday, he told CNN en Español from the country's capital that he viewed his comedic background as an advantage and not as a burden.

"If the headlines had said a businessman is running for president, it would not have had the same impact. .... I think it is helping us with our message about a new face for Guatemala, an honest face," the 46-year-old said, as reported by CNN.

Addressing Guatemalans living in the United States, Morales said that they did not vote, but they counted in his win. "The support that you gave us, calling your family and friends, counted in a transcendental way so that we are in this position today," he noted, as quoted by the news outlet.

According to Reuters, Morales was already well-known in Guatemala for his 14-year role in a TV comedy show. His humble background also persuaded voters that he can carry out his promises of dealing with corruption and giving millions of smartphones to children.

When asked about people critical of his political abilities, Morales said, "I have been asked if we have the capacity to govern, and we have been emphatic in saying that alone -- no -- but with the blessing of God, and the support of the people, we are sure that yes, we can. Because Guatemala has made a choice that it wants a change," CNN quoted.

Morales' manifesto was just six pages long and failed to give extensive details about his plan to battle corruption, aside from his promises to put more funds into justice, audit institutions, and make government spending transparent, Reuters reported.

Morales departed his TV show, which featured vulgar skits and jokes, in 2014 for his presidential bid, the news outlets wrote. He had low ratings in polls in April but surged in popularity when Guatemala's former president Otto Pérez Molina and a candidate leading the presidential race became involved in corruption allegations.

Torres, 59, got less than 33% of votes. She conceded late Sunday night and said that she respects the people's choice for the nation's presidential seat, adding that she wishes Morales great success, CNN reported.