Jimmy Morales, a former TV comic elected Guatemala’s new president on a wave of public revulsion against widespread graft, was to take office Thursday in a ceremony attended by leaders from the Americas.

Police were deployed throughout the capital to ensure security for the event.

Invitees included US Vice President Joe Biden, Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto, Ecuador’s President Rafael Correa and Central American leaders. Spain’s former king Juan Carlos also arrived at a military airbase to take part.

Morales, 46, was previously best known for a television role as a country bumpkin who nearly becomes president.

Elections on October 25 elevated him to the office of head of state for real, by a landslide, despite having no political experience beyond an unsuccessful run for municipal office in 2011.

His victory was attributed to widespread public disgust with corruption, especially after his predecessor, Otto Perez, was felled by a major graft scandal.

Credit: Vanguard