Morales, Jimmy

Born in Guatemala , one of four children in a working-class family. Parents by confession were not Catholics, but evangelical Christians , their sons were given the English names James and Samuel. The head of the family died in a car accident, his mother worked as an auxiliary in a shoe store. From childhood, James was forced to work, traded bananas with his hands ^[1] .

James Morales received his basic education at the Gospel Institute of Latin America. He also graduated from the Protestant seminary, the University of San Carlos of Guatemala, and the graduate school of the University of Mariano Galves. Received the specialty of a business administrator and organizer of security companies. He taught at the law and economics departments of the University of San Carlos.

Brothers James and Samuel Morales were professionally involved in the film industry. James founded a company of the corresponding profile, released the popular comedy television program Moralejas . For 15 years, along with Samuel starred in feature films. He gained fame as an actor in comic roles.

In 2011, James Morales changed his name to Jimmy (Samuel Morales is known as Sammy).

In politics, Jimmy Morales adheres to right-wing national conservative views. In September 2011, he ran for the post of head of administration of one of the districts of the Guatemalan capital from the Christian Democratic Party Action of National Development . Took third place, receiving about 8% of the vote.

In March 2013, Jimmy Morales was elected Secretary General of the National Convergence Front ( FCN ). The party was created in 2008 by a group of retired military ^[2] from the Civil War Veterans Association ( Avemilgua ). FCN stands on the positions of right-wing nationalism, conservative republicanism , extreme anti-communism and Riosmontism (journalist Lionel Sisniega Otero , who led the ultra-right death squads Mano Blanca in the 1960s and 1970s, took part in its creation) ^[3] . Colonel Edgar Justino Ovalle Maldonado , who played a prominent role in the military-operational leadership during the reign of Efrain Rios Montt, invited Jimmy Morales to the party leadership ^[4] . Opponents argue that it is Avemilgua that is the political center in which the installations of Jimmy Morales are developed; he himself denies this ^[5] .

The National Convergence Front - FCN, the Jimmy Morales Party - advocates conservative nationalism. For patriotism and traditional values. Only. But few people judge FCN by its program and slogans. More important than another.
Guatemalan-favorite actor Jimmy joined the party two years ago. And there is a party for seven years. It was established by veterans of the anti-communist civil war. CSKA and the " patroller " of the peasant troops of Rios Montt. General Kilo Ayuso , General Miranda Trejo, Colonel Ovalier Maldonado - these are experts in Latin America who associate “Guatemalan convergence” ^[6] .

On May 17, 2015, Jimmy Morales was nominated as an FCN candidate for the presidency of Guatemala . In his program, he focused on the tough fight against crime and corruption (the slogan Ni corrupto, ni ladrón ), the development of education and healthcare, and the stimulation of private business that creates jobs. At the same time, Morales’s involvement in the political elite attracted voters ’sympathy ^[7] .

The first round of the presidential election took place on September 6, 2015 . Contrary to most forecasts, Jimmy Morales collected almost 24% of the vote and took first place. The assumptions turned out to be that the corruption scandal and the arrest of former President Otto Perez Molina would provide leadership to the left.

Morales spoke in elections from the standpoint of right-wing nationalism. The main motive is anti-corruption and anti-criminal: “No to thieves and bribe takers!” To restore order, introduce the death penalty. He is a supporter of capitalism ... Plus, conservative values ​​are a strong family, a ban on abortion.
The vote was in fact a protest. Guatemalans choose the order, but not of the current officials, nationalism, but not of the current nationalists, capitalism, but not of the current capitalists ^[8] .

In the second round of the presidential election on October 25, 2015, Jimmy Morales won a landslide victory over candidate of the National Union of Hope ( UNE ) Sandra Torres . More than 68% of voters voted for Morales (at the same time, the turnout in the second round - less than 50% - was much lower than in the first) ^[9] .

Politics

The inauguration of Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales took place on January 14, 2016 . The ceremony was attended by US Vice President Joe Biden , former King of Spain Juan Carlos I , Latin American leaders. During the inauguration, Jimmy Morales called on citizens to rally to fight corruption and poverty, and also thanked those who were already fighting this fight ^[10] . Observers note in the speeches of the new president the motives of messianism and right-wing populism ^[11] . Sometimes Morales is considered a political type of leader- caudillo , characteristic of Guatemalan history ^[12] .

An important policy direction of Jimmy Morales is strengthening ties with the United States . In February 2018, Morales paid a working visit to Washington and met with Donald Trump . The US President called Guatemala one of the main allies in the world. Trump and Morales discussed issues of a joint fight against organized crime, illegal migration and upholding democratic principles (including in the context of the acute political crisis in Venezuela ) ^[13] . A serious resonance was caused by the statement of Morales about his intention to transfer the Guatemalan embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem ^[14] .

Corruption scandals

Despite the pompous anti-corruption rhetoric, the presidency of Morales is marked by a series of major scandals. In the spring of 2016, the UNE opposition party demanded an investigation into the president’s ties with law-oriented entrepreneurs. In 2017 , an investigation was launched into the illegal financing of FCN and the Morales campaign. In response, Morales announced the initiator of the investigation - the UN functionary of Colombian lawyer Ivan Velazquez - persona non grata and ordered to expel him from Guatemala ^[15] .

In January 2017, Presidential brother and adviser Sammy Morales and president's son Jose Manuel Morales were arrested. They were charged with corruption and money laundering obtained illegally ^[16] . In September of that year, it became known that the Guatemalan Ministry of Defense paid the president $ 7,300 each month as a “bonus for extraordinary liability." Secretary of Defense Williams Mansilla was forced to resign and was subsequently arrested. Morales denied any violation of the law in this situation, but returned $ 60,000 ^[17] . At the same time, as of 2017, Jimmy Morales is the highest paid of Latin American presidents: his salary was $ 19,300 per month ^[18] .

These scandals led to massive street protests. At the call of the opposition, about 15 thousand demonstrators demanded the resignation of Morales. Foreign observers have expressed concern about the known ties of the presidential party FCN with veterans of the Civil War ^[19] . However, bloodshed was avoided. The popularity of Jimmy Morales has declined markedly, but he retains significant support in the country ^[20] .