Page 284 - tesis
P. 284

also reflected in the mentality of other charismatic politicians in other countries of Latin America. Freston mentions the case of Francisco Rossi of Brazil who says, \u2018as born again spiritual beings, we are the cream of society. The church is on to higher level to normal people [...] because the church has the answer politicians are looking for\u2019 (1997: 199).\u000AHugo del Pozo from ESH and former Mayor of the Antigua City notes that with Christians in the political field things will begin to change in the country. If \u2018there is justice in this country and if we fight against corruption in every area, things will change\u2019. Pozo states that changes will come as Evangelicals participate in the existing parties instead of forming their own parties. According to his testimony he managed to establish some substantial changes in his period as mayor of Antigua.127\u000AAccording to Manuel Conde former spokesman for the presidency of Serrano El\u00EDas and representative of the government in the dialogue with the guerrilla, the Christians must participate in politics not as Evangelicals, but as ordinary citizens sustained by Christian principles (IO8).128 His specific proposal is the transformation of the institutions of the State to stimulate development of the country. Sherman in her study of the Evangelicals in Guatemala indicates that they could contribute to broader cultural changes in the country (1997: 139).\u000AFinally, pastor Harold Caballeros resigned his pastorate to dedicate his time to politics. He founded the VIVA political party (Vision with Values) at the end of 2005. This party after collecting all the necessary signatures was registered as a political party. According to those involved this process of forming the committee had been going on for some time. Sometime later Pastor Caballeros was invited to be part of a group called \u2018Prosperous Guatemala\u2019 composed of entrepreneurs from ESH as well as other churches\u000A127 According to Pozo his administration shut twenty-five brothels and reduced the hours of public alcohol consumption. Alongside these measures he started some alternative projects for tourism. The city of Antigua is the old colonial capital of Guatemala as has been declared Cultural Patrimony of humanity by the UNESCO.\u000A128 Conde grew up in a middle class church close to the Central American Mission and later he moved to a branch of the LDG. He founded the \u201CCambio Nacional\u201D party with whom he participated as presidential candidate for the 2003 elections. His party was cancelled as they did not have the minimum number of votes required by the Electoral Tribunal. After this experience he became the General Secretary of UD party and will participate as their presidential candidate in the 2007 elections.\u000A 271\u000A


































































































   282   283   284   285   286