On June 25, Bernardo Arévalo unexpectedly secured second place in Guatemala’s first-round presidential vote. Many in the political and economic elite consider Mr. Arévalo, a sociologist and congressman, a threat to Guatemala’s status quo.

But Mr. Arévalo seems to have captured a wave of citizen frustration. Many are angered by systemic corruption and the government’s weakening of democratic institutions – a discontent that has been further fueled by an ongoing criminal investigation into Mr. Arévalo’s party that is widely considered politically motivated. Guatemalans are heading to the polls this weekend, and for many, regardless of political affiliation, the vote will define the nation’s path – either toward, or further away from, democracy.

“We are protesting today not to defend any political party, but for democracy,” says Angelina Aspuac, coordinator of the National Movement of Weavers, which organized a demonstration outside the public prosecutor’s office this month. Across the street, weavers worked on brilliantly colored textiles in a symbolic act of protest: Strips of paper reading “hope” and “democracy” adorned the threads on their looms.

The government’s attempts to undermine the election have “convinced a citizenry that had a lot of apathy … to start to believe in the possibility of change,” says NGO director Iduvina Hernández.

More than 200 Mayan women gathered with back looms and protest banners outside the public prosecutor’s office in Guatemala City last week, demanding the government stop “weaving corruption” ahead of a presidential runoff election.

It was one of many diverse – and earnest – protests that emerged across Guatemala in the lead-up to this Sunday’s vote, part of a chorus of calls for officials to respect the electoral process and democracy here. 

“We are protesting today not to defend any political party, but for democracy, for rule of law,” says Angelina Aspuac, coordinator of the National Movement of Weavers, which organized the demonstration. Across the street, weavers worked on brilliantly colored textiles in a symbolic act of protest. Strips of paper reading “hope” and “democracy” adorned the threads on their looms.

On June 25, Bernardo Arévalo, of the Movimiento Semilla party, unexpectedly secured second place in a first-round presidential election, behind Unidad Nacional de la Esperanza contender and former first lady Sandra Torres. Many in the political and economic elite consider Mr. Arévalo a threat to Guatemala’s status quo.

But Mr. Arévalo, a sociologist and congressman, seems to have captured a wave of citizen frustration. Many are angered by systemic corruption and the government’s weakening of democratic institutions – a discontent that has been further fueled by an ongoing criminal investigation into Mr. Arévalo’s party that is widely considered politically motivated. Guatemalans are heading to the polls this weekend, and for many, regardless of political affiliation, the vote will define the nation’s path – either toward, or further away from, democracy.

The future of Guatemala is at stake, says Iduvina Hernández, director of the Association for the Study of Security in Democracy, a Guatemalan nongovernmental organization.

The government’s attempts to undermine the election, and the growing support for an outsider candidate, have “convinced a citizenry that had a lot of apathy … to start to believe in the possibility of change,” she says.