The attorney general of Guatemala, Consuelo Porras, attended a meeting this Monday, January 29, with the country's new president, the progressive Bernardo Arévalo, and his cabinet, but left early citing legal impediments, without addressing the president's request to to resign. The tensions between the attorney general and the progressive politician date back to July 12, when the head of the Public Ministry began a four-month crusade of judicial actions to try to stop the presidential inauguration of Arévalo, who won the elections against all odds.
First modification: Last modification:
3 min
“I found it necessary to withdraw since the meeting was intended to be held within the framework of the Council of Ministerswhich by constitutional and legal mandate prohibits me from participating,” stated the Attorney General of Guatemala, Consuelo Porras, regarding the meeting with the country's president, Bernardo Arévalo.
The president of Guatemala, Bernardo Arévalo de León, thus saw his attempt to confront the attorney general, Consuelo Porras Argueta, frustrated again this Monday, January 29, accused of trying to prevent his inauguration.
Prosecutor Porras, who promoted a judicial crusade that put Arévalo's inauguration in check, responded to the second summons from the new president, who has publicly asked her to resign, something she rejects. Her term expires in 2026.
The prosecutor assured that she attended Arévalo's summons “in compliance with the organic law of the Public Ministry” (Prosecutor's Office), but she withdrew because that meeting interfered with the “autonomy” of the institution that she directs.
Hours later, in a letter published on the social network “.
The Attorney General sent a letter to the Presidency of the Republic, inviting the President, in his capacity as representative of national unity, to hold a working meeting to coordinate inter-institutional efforts in favor of crime victims. pic.twitter.com/aN3OiMeF9H
— MP of Guatemala (@MPguatemala) January 29, 2024
Arévalo, whose rise to power two weeks ago has raised fears among the country's traditional elite, summoned Porras to the cabinet session after she refused to meet with him last Wednesday.
That same day, the 70-year-old prosecutor, considered “corrupt” by the United States, said she would not leave her position. Arévalo lacks the power to remove it.
Porras Argueta, who came to the Prosecutor's Office in 2018, chosen by then-president Jimmy Morales (2016-2020) and was confirmed by Alejandro Giammattei (2020-2024), cannot be removed from her position unless it is proven in a debate who has committed crimes, according to the current law of the Central American country.
After the cabinet meeting this Monday, Arévalo said in a press conference that Porras must decide whether or not to step aside.
“The resignation request is public and notorious. It is in the public domain, she knows it and I believe it is placed on the table, so that she is the one who defines with her actions whether she is accepting it or not,” declared the president.
The president indicated that Porras' “frustrated visit” was intended to address joint activities and indicated that he will evaluate “the legal actions that proceed” in the face of Porras' “refusal” to participate in the cabinet session.
The international community accuses Porras of “undermining” democracy in Guatemala by having put the presidential transition at risk with questionable investigations, including one that considered the 2023 elections won by Arévalo “null.”
These maneuvers were described by Arévalo as an attempted “coup d'état” to prevent him from assuming power with his promise to combat corruption, which set off alarms among the country's political and economic elite.
Arévalo de León, considered the first progressive president of Guatemala since the recovery of democracy in 1986, has the challenge in his first months of government to generate the necessary governability conditions to advance with the promises to fight corruption that catapulted him to power. .
With AFP and EFE
#Guatemala #President #Arévalo39s #attempt #confront #attorney #general #fails