Subtitle,
Clashes broke out between police and Arévalo's supporters in Guatemala this afternoon.
Item information
- Author, editorial
- Role, BBC News World
6 hours
Bernardo Arévalo is still waiting at the Miguel Ángel Asturias Cultural Center to be sworn in as president of Guatemala, on a day marked by protests, court rulings and chaos in the Central American country's Congress.
The investiture ceremony was planned, in which several international delegations took part 3:00 p.m. local time.
However, the ceremonial session was delayed due to the fact that the Credentials Commission, consisting of the outgoing congressmen, was slow in checking the documents of the elected representatives.
That delayed the swearing-in of new lawmakers as well as the Congressional Caucus, the group responsible for inaugurating the president and vice president-elect.
The area surrounding the congress remains surrounded by police as supporters of the new president demanded the swearing-in process begin.
There were previously clashes between the authorities and the demonstrators.
On his part Arévalo visited the social network X on Sunday afternoon to call the deputies.
Image source: Portal
Subtitle,
There is a clear presence of indigenous groups among the protesters.
“MPs have a responsibility to respect the will of the people expressed during the elections. Attempts are being made to violate democracy through illegalities, petty things and abuse of power. The Guatemalan people and the international community are watching,” he said.
The turning point of the Semilla movement in Congress
The swearing-in of the new deputies was originally scheduled for this Sunday at 8 a.m.
Despite it, Due to a request from the Semilla movement, the event was delayedArévalo's party, which turned to the Constitutional Court to clarify whether the organization could be part of the executive board of the Congress after being disqualified as a political group last November.
The judges ruled that they had to be sworn in as independents, weakening the presidential mandate since they had no access to leadership positions or chairing commissions.
However, after the new Congress was formed around the 7:30 p.m. Guatemala timeIn a session preceded by forceful speeches alleging constitutional violations, the Semilla movement managed to present a petition before the plenary session to re-establish itself as a bank.
And he also achieved approval for his proposal for the Congressional Executive Committee. In this way the legislature was run Samuel Perez Alvareza 31-year-old politician from the Semilla movement.
Image source: Portal
Subtitle,
Bernardo Arévalo is a Guatemalan sociologist and former diplomat.
International support
Given the delay in Arévalo's swearing-in, Several international delegations expressed their support for the politicianincluding Colombia, Honduras, Costa Rica and the United States, as well as the Organization of American States (OAS) and the European Union.
“Here in Guatemala, the Congress of the Republic still does not agree to elect its executive board, which must take over from President Bernardo Arévalo,” he announced on X this evening Gustavo PetroColombian president who is in Guatemala.
“The prosecution, as in Peru, as in Colombia, has adopted a negative attitude towards the presidency and has even tried to imprison the popularly elected vice president,” he added.
The President of Honduras, Xiomara Castro, made a similar call. “The people and powers of the State of Guatemala must support the President.”
Subtitle,
Luis Almagro, Secretary General of the OAS, together with the international delegations, expresses their support for the elected President Bernardo Arévalo.
And later, Luis AlmagroSecretary General of the OAS, read a joint statement to several media channels, accompanied by some delegations visiting the Central American country, who met in a historic milestone at the request of the Costa Rican Foreign Ministry.
“We call on the Congress of the Republic to fulfill its constitutional mandate and hand over power today, as required by the Constitution, to President-elect Bernardo Arévalo and Vice President-elect Karin Herrera,” he said.
“The Guatemalan people expressed their democratic will in fair, free and transparent elections supported by the international community,” he added.
A path full of obstacles
Arévalo's rise to the top of power in Guatemala was a Obstacle coursedespite his broad voter support.
He was elected Guatemalan president on August 20 in a runoff election with 60.9% of the vote and an anti-corruption speech.
But the 65-year-old sociologist and diplomat denounced for months attempts to circumvent the election results by officials he labeled “corrupt” and who demanded the revocation of the legal status of the Semilla Movement, the progressive party he co-founded.
In December, Arévalo even said publicly that they were trying to hold one “Coup”.
Image source: Portal
Subtitle,
Consuelo Porras, Attorney General of Guatemala, has been placed on a corrupt and undemocratic list by the United States.
However, the State Ministry assures that there are irregularities in the constitution of the Semilla movement.
While Arévalo specifically referred to the Attorney General Consuelo Porras As responsible. He also called on him to resign after he ordered a search of the Supreme Electoral Court, accusing him of alleged anomalies in the elections he won.
Porras was placed on a corrupt and undemocratic list by the United States because of her controversial management, but had the support of outgoing President Alejandro Giammattei.
The conflict sparked protests in favor of Arévalo, who swept the election and, when sworn in, will become the most progressive president since the return to democracy nearly 40 years ago.
And remember that you can receive notifications. Download and activate the latest version of our app so you don't miss out on our best content.