Guatemala names interim vice president amid political crisis

Juan Alfonso Fuentes Soria holds up his right hand as he is sworn-in as Guatemala’s new Vice President, in Guatemala City, Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2015. Fuentes replaces Alejandro Maldonado, who was briefly vice president before he assumed the presidency following the resignation of Otto Perez Molina two weeks ago. AP

GUATEMALA CITY — Guatemala’s congress has named Juan Alfonso Fuentes Soria as vice president amid a political scandal that forced the president and vice president to resign and has both in jail facing corruption charges.

Fuentes is a dentist who headed the President’s Commission on Human Rights and was rector of the University of San Carlos in Guatemala. He was chosen Wednesday.

Fuentes replaces Alejandro Maldonado, who was briefly vice president before he assumed the presidency following the resignation of Otto Perez Molina two weeks ago.

Perez Molina has been jailed and faces several charges related to a widespread customs fraud scandal, in which businesses allegedly paid kickbacks to government officials in exchange for lower import duties.

Maldonado had replaced former Vice President Roxana Baldetti, who also stepped down amid the scandal.

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