Guatemala's First Couple Divorcing...

...so wife can dodge constitution and run for Alvaro Colom's seat
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Mar 22, 2011 7:09 AM CDT
Guatemala's First Couple Divorcing...
Guatemala's President Alvaro Colom, right, and his wife, Sandra Torres, left, leave the congress after delivering his third State of the Nation speech in Guatemala City, Friday Jan. 14, 2011.   (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)

Guatemala's first couple appear to be trying to keep power in the family—by splitting up the family. President Alvaro Colom and wife Sandra Torres de Colom have filed for divorce "by mutual consent" to allow her to stand for election this fall to replace him, the Telegraph reports. Guatemala's constitution bans presidents from serving consecutive terms, and prohibits close relatives from vying for the presidency.

Guatemala's constitutional court will have the final say on whether Torres—whom critics say already wields more power than her husband—will be allowed to stand. Opposition parties denounced the move as an immoral attempt to defraud the electoral system. "It is sad that for the love of power, she left the love of her life," a member of the FRG party tells the Guatemala Times. "One can divorce for many reasons, but for the love of power, is unthinkable." (More Guatemala stories.)

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