Guatemala has been partly paralyzed for more than a week, with protesters blocking the country’s main roads in support of the president elected last month, social democrat Bernardo Arévalo. Tension continues to rise, because the man who made his entire campaign on the fight against corruption is today hampered by a series of legal actions which attempt to invalidate his election. The outgoing president called on the elected official to calm his supporters.
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Bernardo Arevalo and his Semilla party are targeted by Attorney General Consuelo Porras, Prosecutor Rafael Curruchiche and Judge Fredy Orellana: the three civil servants whose resignation the demonstrators are demanding.
In Guatemala City on Monday, hooded demonstrators attacked businesses, breaking windows. Clashes with the police left around fifteen people injured, according to the authorities.
In the process, outgoing president Alejandro Giammattei spoke, condemning the demonstrations and calling on Bernardo Arévalo to calm his supporters:
“ You are the only one responsible for what is happening, you have lost control of the demonstrators and the blockades that you called for. This is why I publicly appeal to Mr. Bernardo Arévalo. I suggest that we discuss together how to ensure the transfer of power on January 14 peacefully, with mediation provided by the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States. »
Response from Bernardo Arevalo: the victorious presidential candidate calls on the government – the only one able to act according to it – to assume its responsibilities by taking decisions to end the blockade.
Guatemala’s Constitutional Court ordered Saturday October 7 to guarantee the inauguration of President-elect Bernardo Arévalo. In its judgment, broadcast on the X network, the Court asked to “ preserve the democratic regime of the State, in particular the alternation in the exercise of power », on the scheduled date of January 14.