Guatemala's first lady seeks divorce...

...so that she can run for president. Constitution prevents the president's family members from seeking high office

Published March 22, 2011 3:15PM (EDT)

Sandra Torres de Colom, first lady of Guatemala.
Sandra Torres de Colom, first lady of Guatemala.

A court official says Guatemala's first lady is ending her eight-year marriage so she can seek to succeed her husband as president.

Guatemala's constitution prohibits members of a president's extended family from running for the presidency.

Judiciary spokesman Edwin Escobar says divorce proceedings began Monday between Sandra Torres de Colom and President Alvaro Colom, who cannot run for re-election.

If both parties agree, the divorce could be final in about a month.

Torres announced March 8 that she will be the presidential candidate of the governing National Unity for Hope party in the September election.

Torres' spokesman could not be reached for comment.


By Associated Press

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