By Mac MargolisBefore he won the Guatemalan presidency on an anti-corruption platform, Jimmy Morales was his country’s best-known comedian. The move against Velasquez, whose corruption mop-up enjoys overwhelming public support in Guatemala, set off a storm of criticism, street protests and international censure. By 2015, Guatemalans rated CICIG the most trustworthy of all major institutions, including the Catholic Church and the armed forces. That year proved critical for Guatemala and a watershed in the region’s fight against the rot at the top. It’s the sort of scandal that a comedian could love — only this time, Morales risks becoming his own punchline.

Source: National Post September 01, 2017 05:03 UTC