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The elected president of the Guatemala Bernardo Arevalo He denounced on Tuesday that the Public Prosecutor’s Office and the judge launched an attack against him, the electoral process and his party Seed Movement They denied him his constitutional right to due defense by denying him access to the investigation process against him.
Parallel to Arévalo’s demands, the Organization of American States (OAS) issued a resolution preparing a good offices visit to the country, invoking the Inter-American Democratic Charterin what is interpreted as a new gesture of pressure and the previous step towards stronger measures.
LOOK HERE: Guatemalan Public Prosecutor’s Office submits report on alleged anomalies in the elections to the Electoral Court
Arévalo appeared in the magistrates court Fredy Orellana looking for information but was denied.
“Thirty-three times we were denied by the Public Prosecutor’s Office and 15 times by the court, this is a denial of the right to defense… and it can only be explained because they are aware of the lies and lies they are creating in this case.“Arévalo told reporters.
“It’s a folder made of lies and that’s why they don’t give us access” he added.
For almost six months the prosecution, led by the attorney general Consuelo Porrasbegan an attack on the electoral process to prevent, according to Arévalo, from taking office on January 14, as established in the Constitution, to govern the country for the next four years.
The Public Ministry has already requested the withdrawal of the president-elect’s immunity three times to investigate him. Without immunity, Arévalo could face arrest warrants.
Given the recurrence of actions, the OAS Permanent Council passed a resolution on Tuesday condemning “We strongly condemn the continued abuse of power by the public ministry and other public authorities Guatemala”.
It also entrusts the President of the Permanent Council and the Secretary General of the OAS, Luis Almagrourgently request the consent of the Government of Guatemala to receive the good offices visit from the Permanent Council “as soon as possible, invoking article 18 of the Inter-American Democratic Charter”
According to the former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Guatemala Gabriel Orellanawith the OAS resolution “Here we are at the prelude to more serious measures that the Inter-American System could dictate against Guatemala if the government insists on maintaining all this paraphernalia of measures.”.
The declaration was made with the support of 29 states, but with Guatemala against. The Savior He abstained and there were two absences.
MORE INFORMATION: The US bans 300 Guatemalans from entering the country, including 100 deputies, for “undermining democracy”
The resolution, proposed by U.Sadds that there is serious concern about “continuous political persecution and judicialization of electoral and democratic transition processes by the Public Ministry and other public authorities in Guatemala”.
It also calls on the Secretary General of the OAS to continue to undertake diplomatic efforts to defend democracy, human rights and the rule of law.
Although the government of Alejandro Giammattei He has tried to distance himself from the role of the Public Ministry and holds transition meetings with Arévalo’s team. Deputies from his party and allies joined the Public Ministry in declaring electoral magistrates to be investigated for the purchase of counting software • quick and parallel results of the general elections. Given the withdrawal of immunity, the magistrates left the country.
Last Friday, the prosecutor Leonor Eugenia Morales Lazo He said at a press conference that there were irregularities in some electoral registers that record votes – those that the Public Ministry seized in a raid – and that this led to the annulment of the elections.
He Supreme Electoral Courtentity that by law is responsible for all acts related to elections, highlighted through its president Blanca Alfaro that the election results were official and unchangeable.
The actions of Judicial power caused alarm in the international community, which warned of an attempted coup d’état led by Porras.
On Tuesday, Democratic and Republican U.S. senators Ben Cardin, Marco Rubio, Tim Kaine, Bill Cassidy It is Dick Durbin They called for the defense of the rule of law in the country and for a peaceful transfer of power.
President-elect Bernardo Arévalo is scheduled to take office in January 2024.
SEE TOO: Guatemala’s electoral court guarantees electoral results unless opposed by the Constitutional Court
“We call on President Giammattei to advocate for Guatemalan institutions to join the private sector and civil society in supporting and respecting a peaceful transition of power, as expected of any democracy“They said in their statement.
“A commitment to defending Guatemala’s place among the community of democratic nations will be crucial to the future of relations between the United States and Guatemala,” the senators said.
On Monday, the United States sanctioned 300 Guatemalan citizens, including more than 100 congressmen, businesspeople, government officials and individuals, for undermining democracy in the Central American country.
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.
