National Unity of Hope
The National Unity of Hope (Spanish: Unidad Nacional de la Esperanza, UNE) is a political party in Guatemala. It was founded in 2002 and defines itself as a social-democratic and social-Christian party. It is the largest political party in Guatemala by the number of members.
National Unity of Hope Unidad Nacional de la Esperanza | |
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Abbreviation | UNE |
Leader | Sandra Torres |
Spokesperson | Édgar Rosales |
Founded | 6 September 2002 |
Split from | New Nation Alternative |
Membership (2023) | 89,696[1] |
Ideology | Populism[2] Social conservatism[2] Historical: Social democracy Christian left[3] |
Political position | Centre[4][5] Historical: Centre-left[6] to left-wing[7] |
Regional affiliation | Center-Democratic Integration Group |
Continental affiliation | COPPPAL (Observer) |
International affiliation | Socialist International[8] |
Colors | Green |
Seats in Congress | 52 / 160 |
Website | |
www | |
2003 election
At the legislative elections held on November 9, 2003, the party won 17.9% of the popular vote and 32 out of 158 seats in Congress. Its presidential candidate Álvaro Colom won 26.4% in the presidential elections on the same day and was defeated in the second round, when he received 45.9%.
2007 election
For the 2007 elections, the party again chose Colom as its presidential candidate. He came in first place with 28% of the vote; in the Legislative Election, the party won 22.8% of the vote and 48 seats in Congress, more than any other party. On November 4, 2007, in the second round of the election, Colom was elected President of Guatemala. It would mark the first time since 1954 that Guatemala had a left wing government.[9]
2011 election
In the 2011 elections, the Constitutional Court ruled out the candidacy of Colom's ex-wife, Sandra Torres, thus making it the first time in the history of the elections that an official ruling party did not present presidential and vice-presidential candidacies.
2015 election
In the 2015 elections held on September 6, 2015, the National Unity of Hope won 19.76% of the vote in the first round and 27 seats in Congress. In the second round (run-off) Presidential candidate Sandra Torres placed second in the presidential race with 32.56% of the vote, eventually losing in the October 25 run-off to Jimmy Morales of the National Convergence Front (FCN/Nation).
2019 election
In the 2019 elections held on June 16, 2019, the party again chose Sandra Torres as its presidential candidate. She came in first place in the first round with 25.54% of the vote but lost the second round on August 11, 2019 with 42.05% of the vote to Alejandro Giammattei of the Vamos party; in the Legislative Election, the UNE party won 54 seats in Congress, more than any other party.
2023 election
The National Unity of Hope had an internal division between deputies opponents and supporters of Sandra Torres in 2020, caused by Torres's accusations of corruption and poor electoral results in 2019, as well as her support for the government of Alejandro Giammattei. A faction opposing Torres removed her as leader and expelled her from the party in 2021. However, the Supreme Electoral Tribunal ruled in favor of Torres and allowed her to continue as party leader.[10] A few days after the decision of the electoral court, the opposition group to Sandra Torres announced its resignation from the National Unity of Hope, to found the "Parliamentary Opposition Group", in reference to its parliamentary opposition to the Giammattei government.[11]
The Parliamentary Opposition Group approached the Will, Opportunity and Solidarity political party.[12]
Election results
President of the Republic of Guatemala
Election | Candidates | First round | Second round | Status | |||
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President | Vice President | Votes | % | Votes | % | ||
2003 | Álvaro Colom | Fernando Andrade | 707,578 | 26.36 | 1,046,868 | 45.87 | Lost |
2007 | Álvaro Colom | Rafael Espada | 926,236 | 28.25 | 1,449,533 | 52.81 | Won |
2011 | Sandra Torres[lower-alpha 1] | Roberto Díaz-Durán | — | — | — | — | Disqualified |
2015 | Sandra Torres | Mario Leal | 948,809 | 19.76 | 1,328,342 | 32.56 | Lost |
2019 | Sandra Torres | Carlos Raúl Morales | 1,112,939 | 25.42 | 1,384,044 | 42.05 | Lost |
2023 | Sandra Torres | Romeo Guerra | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
Congress of the Republic
Election | Votes | % | Seats | +/– | Status |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2003 | 457,308 | 17.92 | 32 / 158 |
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Opposition |
2007 | 720,285 | 22.84 | 52 / 158 |
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Government |
2011[lower-alpha 1] | 985,610 | 22.47 | 48 / 158 |
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Opposition |
2015 | 676,080 | 14.83 | 32 / 158 |
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Opposition |
2019 | 717,204 | 17.81 | 54 / 160 |
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External support |
2023 | TBA | TBA | 0 / 160 |
TBA | TBA |
Notes
- In alliance with Grand National Alliance.
References
- "Estadísticas de Afiliados a Partidos Políticos".
- "ELECCIONES GUATEMALA 2023: ANÁLISIS DEL SISTEMA POLÍTICO Y ELECTORAL" (PDF) (in Spanish). Revista Jurídica Auctoritas Prudentium. Retrieved 2023-04-19.
- http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/ATAG/2015/564395/EPRS_ATA%282015%29564395_EN.pdf
- "Former First Lady Leads In 1st Round Of Voting In Guatemala Presidential Election". National Public Radio. Retrieved 17 June 2019.
- "Former first lady leads in Guatemala election". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 17 June 2019.
- "Guatemala election: former first lady Sandra Torres heads for runoff". The Guardian. 17 June 2019. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
- "Guatemala swears in leftist president". NBC News. Retrieved 2008-04-14.
- "Socialist International".
- Transparency International e.V. "publications/newsletter/2008/January 2008/interview". Archived from the original on 2016-03-25.
- "TSE ordena que Sandra Torres asuma nuevamente el cargo de secretaria general del Partido UNE". Guatevisión (in Spanish). 12 October 2021.
- "Grupo de diputados presenta el Grupo Parlamentario de Oposición". Prensa Libre (in Spanish). 4 November 2021.
- "VOS-GPO denuncia bloqueo de Giammattei, Torres y el TSE". La Hora (in Spanish). 15 November 2022.