Sandra Torres in 2007 with her then-husband, President Alvaro Colom.Sandra Torres divorced her husband, the president of GuatemalaThat apparently cleared her candidacy for the officeOpponents say the move was sham to get around election lawsHer appeal is being heard by country's Supreme Court(CNN) -- Former first lady Sandra Torres took her bid for the presidency to Guatemala's Supreme Court on Friday, arguing that running for the top post is her "political, legal and human right."
The 55-year-old's candidacy was rejected last month by the Guatemalan Supreme Electoral Tribunal.
Torres, a former businesswoman and clothing exporter, announced her decision to run for the presidency in March. Since close relatives of the president are constitutionally barred from doing so, she divorced her husband, Guatemalan President Alvaro Colom, to clear the way for her candidacy. Their divorce was final in April.
But the Supreme Electoral Tribunal rejected Torres' candidacy June 29, alleging "legal fraud." Torres' has denied the fraud accusations, citing "personal" reasons for her divorce.
Torres passionately argued in front of the highest Guatemalan court Friday that she should be allowed to run in the name of democracy.
"The efforts to eliminate legal candidacies weaken democracy... It favors anarchy, and above all, it particularly favors a determined political party. Let everybody participate. What's the problem?" Torres asked. "Democracy is built with more participation."
It was very clear and obvious that the divorce of the presidential couple had a purpose and that purpose was to find a way for her to run--Gudy Rivera, Patriot Party congressman
Hundreds of Torres' political supporters staged a protest in front of the high court. Some held banners that said "register Sandra (to run for president)." Torres is trying to run under the banner of the social-democratic National Unity of Hope (Spanish acronym UNE), a political coalition led by her former husband.
Guatemala City resident Bosbely Ordonez said that Torres "is a very brave woman who always thinks about the poor in our country."
Torres argued that her candidacy is supported by more than 1.3 million voters who have signed petitions in her favor. "More than my rights, I'm here to defend the rights of the men and women who are poor, humble, and marginalized and who were hoping that I would be their candidate. I'm here because I have the political, legal, and human right to be a candidate," Torres said.
But the opposition is crying foul.
Gudy Rivera, a congressman with the Patriot Party, says Torres and Colom have been trying to get around the law.
"It was very clear and obvious that the divorce of the presidential couple had a purpose and that purpose was to find a way for her to run. We trust the Guatemalan legal process and are waiting for the court's decision," Rivera said. The legislator supports the candidacy of Otto Perez Molina of the Patriot Party.
Guatemala is holding presidential elections on September 11. The winner takes office next January for a four-year term. So far, six hopefuls have officially registered their candidacies with Guatemala's Supreme Electoral Tribunal. As many as 11 candidates are expected to run.
If Torres' appeal is rejected, she still has one more chance. The Guatemalan government created the Court of Constitutionality last April. As its name indicates, the court deals exclusively with interpretation of constitutional law.
The Supreme Court is expected to make a ruling by Monday.View the original article here
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