The country’s Supreme Electoral Tribunal earlier reported that Alejandro Giammattei was leading after more than 58 percent of the votes had been counted.
Giammattei received 58.54 percent of the vote, while his rival, Sandra Torres from the social-democratic National Unity of Hope, garnered 41.46 percent.
In the first round, which was held on 16 June, the situation was quite the opposite. Torres led the race with about 26 percent. Giammattei came second with 14 percent.
From 2006 to 2008, Giammattei served as director of the country’s penitentiary system.
The next Guatemalan president may face a major challenge upon taking office in January since US and Guatemalan representatives signed a safe third country asylum agreement, an agreement typically made between two countries that require migrants and refugees to seek asylum in the first safe country they enter. Both Giammattei and Torres have criticised the deal.
