Guatemala's Arzu dies

Former Guatemalan President Alvaro Arzu died on Friday. While Arzu served five terms as mayor of Guatemala City, he will best be remembered for finalizing the peace accords with the URNG that ended the country's thirty-six year conflict in 1996.

In 1995, Arzu of the PAN defeated Alfonso Portillo of Rios Montt's FRG in a runoff election for the presidency. Without Arzu's victory, it is quite possible, even likely, that the firm and lasting peace would not have been reached. Unfortunately, the PAN's representation in the congress was limited and the FRG succeeded in limiting the implementation of the peace agreement.

Arzu dies before confronting justice for his alleged use of fake payrolls in municipal government and using public funds to finance his 2015 re-election campaign.

Read Nomada's obit here.