[The Nation (Nairobi)] First Lady Sandra Torres de Colom has said that she will divorce President Alvaro Colom and marry "the people" to circumvent legal roadblocks preventing her from running for president of Guatemala.
"The love for Guatemala is the reason why the president and I put the interests of the country ahead of our own interests," said Torres.
Torres shed crocodile tears as she described the "great and solid love" she felt for her husband, but said that her love for the people was "limitless."
| "Don't cry for me Guatemala..." |
According to the Guatemala's constitution, close blood relatives of the president and those of "second level of affinity" are banned from running.
Torres has been married to Colom for eight years.
| It just seemed like it was longer... |
The divorce was filed on March 11, just days after Torres announced she was running for president in the September election.
Critics say the move mocks the constitution, but the couple dismiss the critics as politicians and business interests opposed to the government's social reforms.
"I represent the most forgotten and humble sectors of Guatemala," she said. "I've been criticised for what I do and what I don't do, and I've been criticised because I'm divorcing the president, but I'm marrying the people" of Guatemala, she told news hounds.
Colom earlier said that the divorce decision was "difficult" but that he took it "to avoid pressure on the judicial system." |