2023-07-13 23:46:31
The political crisis in Guatemala sharpened after the Prosecutor’s Office raided the offices of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal, leaving the holding of the presidential ballot on August 20 in uncertainty.
The unexpected fiscal measure provoked the rejection of the United States, from business chambers and civil groups from the Central American country, who demanded that the government of President Alejandro Giammattei respect the democratic process.
The crisis escalated in the first round of June 25 when the leader of the center-right National Unity, Sandra Torres, and Bernardo Arévalo, of the social democratic Seed Movement, who campaigned strongly in the fight against corruption in the Giammattei government.
Arévalo’s passage to the ballot was surprising, since it was not in any forecast as a newly formed party. Analysts explained his lightning rise in social weariness by negotiated and corrupt them and the need to clean up the country.
Guatemalan police guard a march of Arévalo supporters in front of the Attorney General’s Office. Photo Reuters
The maneuver
Days after the first round, the right-wing parties associated with the government demanded a new recount of the votes, accusing Arévalo of having committed fraud. The claim was accepted by the Electoral Tribunal, which suspended the second round until it was determined whether there were irregularities in the election.
While the allegations were being investigated, a judge on Wednesday followed a request from the prosecution and suspended the legal status of the Seed Movementunder the charge of having forged some 5,000 signatures of party members, thereby casting doubt on their participation in the ballot.
A day later, the Prosecutor’s Office directly raided the offices of the Electoral Tribunal after this body determined that there were no irregularities in the votes obtained by the Seed Movement, validating its passage to the second turn.
Despite the raid, the Court reported yesterday that the second round will take place on August 20 with Sandra Torres and Bernardo Arévalo in the compulsa However, the realization of the second shift was in doubt due to the uncertainty generated by the legal dispute now open between the Prosecutor’s Office and the Supreme Electoral Tribunal.
Sandra Torres, former first lady and presidential candidate. Photo Reuters
The doubts even increased with the statements of Sandra Torres, who sympathized with Arévalo and announced that he will suspend his campaign due to the crisis.
“We see with great concern a president (Giammattei) who is in hiding. Let him come out and show his face for what is happening in our country “said candidate Torres.
Suspicions that the electoral confusion is being encouraged by the government, which has complete control over the Prosecutor’s Office, raised US protests.
Reviews
The Undersecretary for Hemispheric Affairs of the Department of State, Brian Nichols, warned yesterday of his “concern about the new threats from the Public Ministry (prosecutor’s office) against electoral democracy from Guatemala”. A spokesman for that foreign ministry had maintained that the suspension of the Arévalo party “endangers” the Guatemalan electoral legitimacy.
Washington’s questioning was accompanied by a similar pronouncement from the European Union and the Guatemalan business leadership, which expressed its solidarity with the popular demonstrations in Guatemalan cities demanding respect for the democratic process.
“Attempts to influence the second round of the elections and the growing tension this is causing are being watched with concern,” a UN spokesman said.
In an editorial, the daily The time maintained that “the reaction of the population, of organized businessmen and of the international community has been clear and categorical in rejecting this new maneuver that constitutes a crude coup d’état”.
While the tension does not subside, the candidate Arévalo announced that he will criminally denounce prosecutor Rafael Curruchiche for accusing him of falsifying signatures. That official reports to Attorney General Consuelo Porras, sanctioned in 2021 by the United States on charges of “undermine” justice in the country.
Curruchiche, head of the Special Prosecutor’s Office against Impunity section that initiated the investigation against Semilla, was also sanctioned by the US in 2022 under charges of creating false cases to the detriment of former officials.
This prosecutor led the investigation against the renowned journalist and founder of El Periódico José Zamora Marroquíndetained since July 2022 only five days after launching strong criticism of the inner circle of the Government of President Giammattei.
The Seed Movement was born out of the 2015 anti-corruption demonstrations that also raised loud demands for social justice. Arévalo achieved the surprising second place in the presidential elections on June 25 after sweeping the urban vote, tired of the traditional politics that has governed the Central American country during this century.
In his campaign, Arévalo questioned Giammattei for having validated Prosecutor Porras for a second term, putting aside the complaints that associated her with maneuvers to prevent Semilla from participating in the elections.
Source: AFP, AP and EFE
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