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The elected president of the Guatemalathe social democrat Bernardo Arevalofiled this Monday in court a request for the dismissal of the attorney general, Consuelo Porraswhom he accuses of orchestrating a “coup d’etat”To prevent him from taking power in January.
“We are turning to the law to defend our rights“, said Arévalo after being accompanied by hundreds of followers, who raised Guatemalan flags, to the headquarters of the Supreme Courtwhere he filed a protection appeal requesting the departure of Porras and two other judicial officials.
LOOK HERE: Guatemala: President Arévalo de León asks for “follow-up” to deliver a legal appeal
Furthermore, he requested “that the actions of the Seventh Court be annulled [del cuestionado juez Fredy Orellana] in collusion with prosecutors”against his party, Semilla.
“We present in support all the arguments that show the sequence of acts that violate the Constitution that they committed and that constitute a violation of the established constitutional order”, declared the 64-year-old sociologist and federal deputy, son of the president Juan José Arevalo (1945-1951), who left his mark on the country.
In his appeal, the president-elect also demanded the departure of the prosecutor Rafael Curruchichewho leads controversial investigations against his political movement.
Likewise, he requested the removal of judge Orellana, who ordered raids on the headquarters of Semilla and the Supreme Electoral Courtwhich clouded the political atmosphere in the country.
Porras, Curruchiche and Orellana were included in a list of U.S of characters “corrupt and undemocratic”Central Americans.
“We decided to present a relief that demands the reestablishment of constitutional order and that demands the dismissal of the attorney general, Consuelo Porrasby prosecutor Rafael Curruchiche and judge Fredy Orellana“said Arévalo, who on September 1st denounced that these maneuvers were part of a plan”coup d’etat” to stop him from taking over.
In a march through the streets of the capital, indigenous people in colorful clothes applied the xik’ay any Mayan ancestral punishment with symbolic lashings to the denounced officials and also to the outgoing president, on the right Alejandro Giammatteiwho is accused of participating in the boycott against Arevalo.
“We are here to say no to corruption and impunity“, said the indigenous activist at the march. Rigoberta Menchuwinner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1992.
MORE INFORMATION: Arévalo freezes the presidential transition with the Giammattei Government due to an attempted “coup d’état”
More protests
Hours before the filing of the request, thousands of indigenous people, students and other activists demonstrated in several cities across the country to demand the resignation of Porras and other judicial officials.
In the capital, hundreds of indigenous people from the department of Totonicapan and other western municipalities, carrying plastic whistles and trumpets, walked several streets to demand the departure of the attorney general and other officials.
“If they don’t resign […]we will take further action“, the Mayan leader told AFP Maria Elias.
For this Tuesday, members of the Peasant Development Committee They announced that they would cut around 20 roads in repudiation of the actions of the questioned officials.
With the promise to fight head-on against corruption, one of the country’s evils, Arévalo won a great victory in the second round on August 20, but his rise to power raises fears among powerful political and business sectors.
Last week, Curruchiche led an operation, with dozens of police officers, at an electoral center where prosecutors opened boxes containing votes from the first round of the June 25 elections.
According to the prosecutor, the operation was born out of a complaint from a citizen, but the action was rejected by the international community, which considers it to be just a pretext. U.S He described it as “an attack on the democratic process”.
Almagro attacks the Public Ministry
In Washington, the secretary general of Organization of American States (OAS), Luis Almagrostated this Monday that the Guatemalan Public Ministry cannot be allowed to break “institutionality and the Constitution”in the Central American country, where the process of transferring power is“Under threat”.
SEE TOO: Guatemala: Arévalo demands resignation of attorney general for attempted “coup d’état”
One of these risks is the Public Ministry, said Almagro during a meeting of the Permanent Councilthe executive body of the OAS.
The Public Ministry rejected the accusation of orchestrating a “coup d’etat”, in a message sent to AFP.
“Any statement that seeks to involve the public ministry with the result of the electoral event“, indicated the entity.
Source: Elcomercio
I am Jack Morton and I work in 24 News Recorder. I mostly cover world news and I have also authored 24 news recorder. I find this work highly interesting and it allows me to keep up with current events happening around the world.
