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Guatemalans Go to Polls in Presidential, Parliamentary Elections

© REUTERS / Jorge Dan LopezA electoral worker places a sign to mark the ballot box for President and Vice-President while installing a polling station at a school in Guatemala City, September 5, 2015
A electoral worker places a sign to mark the ballot box for President and Vice-President while installing a polling station at a school in Guatemala City, September 5, 2015 - Sputnik International
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According to local media reports, Guatemalans vote Sunday in controversial presidential and parliamentary elections that come just days after President Otta Perez Molina stepped down over a major corruption scandal.

Guatemala's President Otto Perez Molina arrives to court to face corruption charges, after submitting his resignation in Guatemala City, Thursday, Sept. 3, 2015. - Sputnik International
Judge Orders Guatemalan Ex-President Detained for Hearing
MEXICO CITY (Sputnik) Guatemalans vote Sunday in controversial presidential and parliamentary elections that come just days after President Otta Perez Molina stepped down over a major corruption scandal, local media reported.

Polls began at 7:00 a.m. local time (13:00 GMT), although queues outside the polling stations were visible at least an hour in advance, the local Radio Sonora es la Noticia said.

Former President Perez Molina resigned earlier this week and was arrested on accusations of accepting bribes from businesses that wanted to avoid paying import duties.

Guatemalan authorities expect the ongoing probe to affect the voter turnout, according to the TeleSur television network. If none of the candidates clears the 50-percent threshold there will be a run-off in October.

There have been calls for Guatemalans to spoil ballots and wear black to polling stations in a protest against the corrupt government, the BBC said Sunday.

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