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Comedian Becomes Guatemala's President


Guatemala’s new President Jimmy Morales greets the public as he holds hands with his wife, first lady Hilda Marroquin, after he was sworn-in at the National Theater in Guatemala City, Thursday, Jan. 14, 2016.

A former television comedian with no political experience has been sworn in as Guatemala's president.

Jimmy Morales easily won the country's top office in October after a corruption scandal toppled the country's last leader and fueled voter outrage with the political establishment.

Playing up his outsider status and promising clean government, Morales surged in opinion polls after a probe into a multi-million dollar customs racket that forced President Otto Perez out of office.

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden attended the inauguration of Morales Thursday along with several Latin American presidents.

Morales asked Biden to add Guatemala to the list of countries granted temporary protected status, providing its eligible citizens in the U.S. temporary protection from deportation and allowing them to work and travel.

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