On August 21 last year, Bernardo Arévalo won the presidential election in Guatemala against former first lady Sandra Torres when he received 58 percent of the vote.
The 65-year-old sociologist and ex-diplomat went to the polls on a promise to fight corruption in the Central American republic.
Tried to prosecute him
But the time since the election has been messy with several legal entanglements, including an attempt to ban his party the Seed Movement, several attempts to have him himself prosecuted and, as recently as December, Guatemala’s attorney general’s office tried to invalidate the election.
On Monday, however, he was finally sworn in as president after a ceremony that was delayed for over nine hours.
– Our democracy has the strength to resist and through unity and trust we can change the political landscape in Guatemala. Never again will there be violations of human rights, according to Arévalo Reuters.
The Mayans held a ceremony
The indigenous peoples of the country have played a large part in him finally gaining power. In October, indigenous groups protested in his favor with, among other things, road blockades where the demand was that Arévalo should become president.
In his speech, Arévalo also highlighted the “historical debt” that Guatemala has to its indigenous peoples and that he will expand the residents’ access to health care and education and work for the country’s continued development.
– The most critical and urgent challenge is undoubtedly climate change, he said further.
On Tuesday, the Mayan people held a ceremony in Kaminaljuyu, in Guatemala City, where they honored the new president.
– We have had mediocre, corrupt, rogue governments that did not have the slightest love for their country and I hope that this government does not let the people down. There is a lot of enthusiasm and a lot of hope from the population, says indigenous leader Alida Vicente CBC News.