Guatemala

Published: June 3, 2019, 6 a.m.

b'Several decades removed from the conflict, Guatemala continues to deal with the lasting impact of its thirty-year civil war. Against a backdrop of systemic corruption and violent organized crime driven by the global drug trade, Guatemalans head to the polls on June 16 to elect the President, Congress and municipal offices. But can the country find solutions in an electoral environment where a Presidential candidate was arrested over allegations of connections to the Sinaloa Cartel?\\n\\nWill reformers be able to succeed in this election? What can be done to address long-standing concerns over corruption and citizen security? And why should the United States care about what happens in Guatemala? To answer these questions, our host Lucas Jensen spoke to:\\n\\nPatricio Gajardo - Resident Program Director in Guatemala, International Republican Institute | @pfgajardo\\n\\nAmb. Stephen McFarland - United States Ambassador to Guatemala from 2008 - 2011 | @AmbMcFarland\\n\\nAdriana Beltran - Director for Citizen Security, Washington Office on Latin America | @Adriana_WOLA'