This Thursday, November 2, the Guatemalan Prosecutor’s Office suspended the political party Movimiento Semilla of president-elect Bernardo Arévalo. This, as the result of a series of investigations and accusations carried out by the country’s organization headed by Consuelo Porras, the nation’s attorney general. One more event that aggravates the political crisis of the Central American country and puts in suspense the inauguration of Arévalo on January 14, successor of the current Guatemalan president, Alejandro Giammattei.
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Tension increases in the political arena of Guatemala. This November 2, the country’s Supreme Electoral Court (TSE) suspended the legal personality of the Semilla Movement, the party of elected president Bernardo Arévalo de León. The above, as a result of the request of a criminal judge who is carrying out investigations into alleged irregularities in the process of forming the party five years ago.
The suspension of Bernardo de León’s political party was made official by the Citizen Registry of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE), after the electoral process formally ended on October 31.
Freddy Orellana, criminal judge of the country, On June 12, he requested the suspension of the party due to alleged anomalies in the formation of the Semilla Movement in 2018.an investigation by the Public Ministry of Guatemala (Prosecutor’s Office) that received a response this Thursday.
However, according to the country’s electoral court, The electoral results that left Arévalo de León as the winner of the elections cannot be reversed. In dialogue with the EFE news agency, the Semilla Movement has not yet been notified of its suspension.
Months ago, on September 1, the president-elect attacked Attorney General Consuelo Porras and Judge Orellana. He accused them of attempting a “coup d’état” to prevent his appointment as president of the Central American country on January 14.
Porras’ statements and judicial actions have caused massive demonstrations by Guatemalan citizens and blockades on some roads in the country to demand the official’s resignation.
A controversial electoral race
The race for the presidency of Guatemala – which began on January 20 – is considered the most controversial in the entire democratic history of the Central American country. This, due to the judicialization of the elections and the attempt by the Prosecutor’s Office to reverse the results.
Two months ago, the Prosecutor’s Office raided the headquarters of the Semilla Movement and the country’s Supreme Electoral Tribunal, confiscating documents from both as an attempt to reverse the results of the electoral process.
For his part, President-elect Arévalo has previously said that his victory cannot be annulled.
This Tuesday the Supreme Electoral Tribunal of Guatemala concluded the electoral process in the country and assured that the results of the voting on June 25 and August 20 are unalterable.
In this way, “the results of the elections are made official” and “legal certainty” is guaranteed to the candidates chosen for the different positions, according to a statement from the TSE. However, some experts have stated that the country’s Prosecutor’s Office will again charge against Arévalo and the last elections with new criminal cases.
Condemnations from the international community
The international community has spoken out against the attacks against the electoral process by the Prosecutor’s Office and the actions of Prosecutor Porras. Luis Almagro, president of the Organization of American States (OAS), has condemned Porras’ actions as “a shameful example.”
On the other hand, this Tuesday the United States Department of State imposed visa restrictions on more than 12 Guatemalan citizens for trying to undermine their country’s democracy. The list includes current and former officials of the Government of the Central American country, among them are the former Minister of the Interior, Gendri Reyes, and the former Minister of Energy and Mines, Alberto Pimentel.
Norma Torres, a US congresswoman of Guatemalan descent, stated in a statement that “the Guatemalan people have spoken and their votes must be respected.” “The United States unequivocally supports those who fight for democracy in Guatemala,” said the congresswoman.
The White House has tried to pressure Guatemalan officials—especially Prosecutor Porras—to stop their attempts to reverse the election results and, in general, their attacks on the electoral process. Since 2021, Porras has been on the list of corrupt and undemocratic actors of the United States Department of State.
![Guatemala's Attorney General Consuelo Porras attends a meeting with elected municipal mayors in Guatemala City on August 4, 2023. Porras has been in the middle of a controversy after the prosecutor called for suspending the Movimiento Semilla de Guatemala party from the social democratic presidential candidate Bernardo Arévalo for alleged anomalies. Provoking a political crisis that is considered by several local sectors and the international community as an attempt to hinder her participation in the August 20 elections where she will face former First Lady Sandra Torres.](https://s.france24.com/media/display/9e17d4a6-79c4-11ee-b70a-005056a97e36/000_33QN249.jpg)
Also from the Latin American region, the president of Mexico, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, asked this Tuesday to “let the president-elect govern.” This, since his investiture is in suspense due to the actions of the Prosecutor’s Office and the generalized political crisis facing the Central American country.
“I hope that reconciliation is achieved and, if there are differences, that they be resolved, that they be resolved peacefully, that they let Bernardo govern, he will do very good things for the benefit of the people,” said the Mexican president.
Faced with political pressure, the current Guatemalan president, Alejandro Giammattei, has said that in accordance with his country’s legislation, he cannot ask for the resignation of the controversial prosecutor Porras.
With EFE and Reuters
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