Jimmy Morales (actor)
| Jimmy Morales | |
|---|---|
| Born | James Ernesto Morales Cabrera March 18, 1969 Guatemala City, Guatemala |
| Nationality | Guatemalan |
| Alma mater | Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala |
| Occupation | Actor, politician |
| Political party | National Convergence Front |
| Religion | Evangelical Christian |
| Website | www |
Jimmy Morales (born James Ernesto Morales Cabrera, March 18, 1969) is a Guatemalan comic actor and right-wing politician. He is a candidate in the country's 2015 presidential election.
Morales formally changed his name by deed poll in 2011.[1] He comes from a poor family[2] and is an Evangelical Christian.[3] He holds degrees in Business Administration from the national Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala and in theology.[3]
Morales rose to fame as a TV comedian, starring in the series Moralejas ("Morals") alongside his brother Sammy.[4] In 2011, he ran as mayoral candidate in Mixco for the small right-wing Action for National Development party.[5] In 2013, he joined the small National Convergence Front (FCN/Nation) and became its secretary-general.
In 2015 he was nominated as the FCN's presidential candidate. He was initially considered an outsider but surprisingly finished first in the first round of the election, qualifying for the runoff.[2] He runs on a platform of conservative values[3] and against corruption. His slogan is "Neither corrupt nor a thief"[2] (Ni corrupto, ni ladrón).[3] He identifies as a nationalist,[6] supports the death penalty and opposes abortion. Moreover, he denies that a genocide against the Ixil Maya took place.[4] Morales' success came after both former vice president Roxana Baldetti and outgoing president Otto Pérez Molina had to step down and were arrested on fraud and corruption charges[2] (La Linea corruption case). His success was viewed as a sign of the distrust of many Guatemalans towards the traditional political elite.[2][3]
Morales is married and has four children.[5]
Comments on Belize[edit]
As a presidential candidate Morales has made statements strongly in support of Guatemala's longstanding territorial claim to neighboring Belize, saying, "Something is happening right now, we are about to lose Belize. We have not lost it yet."[7]
References[edit]
- ^ http://issuu.com/lahoragt/docs/edimpresa_viernes_1_abril_2011/14
- ^ a b c d e Juan Montes (7 September 2015). "Comedian Jimmy Morales Leads Guatemalan Election". The Wall Street Journal.
- ^ a b c d e José Elías (7 September 2015). "Jimmy Morales, el candidato sorpresa". El País.
- ^ a b Louisa Reynolds (10 June 2015). "In Guatemala, anti-establishment presidential candidate benefits from corruption scandals". The Tico Times.
- ^ a b Henry Morales (4 September 2015). "Jimmy Morales, el comediante que quiere ser un presidente serio". Prensa Libre.
- ^ "Jimmy Morales, Comedian Candidate to Guatemalan Presidency". Prensa Latina English. 2 September 2015.
- ^ Trujillo, Renee. "Presidential Candidate for Guatemala Says Belize Can Still Be Fought For", LOVE FM, 9 September 2015 (accessed 28 September 2015)