Bernardo Arévalo assumes the presidency of Guatemala after judicial attack and hours of tension in Congress

The president of Guatemala, Bernardo Arevalo de León, was finally inaugurated in the early hours of this Monday after a marathon day full of incidents and several months of uncertainty, in which the Public Ministry (Ministério Público) tried to prevent his coming to power at all costs. The inauguration was scheduled for Sunday afternoon, but was postponed by more than 10 hours and several heads of state, including the King of Spain, Felipe VI, left the country without being able to witness the ceremony.

Felipe VI left Guatemala on Sunday night, as initially planned, as well as the Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, who had arrived a few hours earlier to accompany the Spanish delegation.

LOOK: Tension in Congress delays Bernardo Arévalo’s inauguration as president of Guatemala

It was the same case also for the president of Chile, Gabriel Boric, who left the Central American country in the afternoon, as he had “commitments” in his country on Monday morning, as he indicated through his official channels.

Guatemala’s new president, Bernardo Arévalo, and new vice president, Karin Herrera, greet their supporters on the balcony of the National Palace of Culture in Guatemala City. (MARTIN BERNETTI/AFP). (MARTIN BERNETTI/)

Arevalo de Leona 65-year-old academic who symbolizes the fight against corruptionwas invested as head of state at the end of a day when the transfer of power was at risk because the Congress The exit procedure significantly delayed some routine legal procedures.

This delay was intended to “coup d’etat“, as some opposition deputies pointed out, and as he himself warned Arevalo de Leon on September 1, when he accused the prosecutor and head of the Public Ministry (Ministério Público), Consuelo Porras, of wanting to prevent his inauguration.

WATCH: Bernardo Arévalo: protesters and police clash in front of the Guatemalan Congress

Arévalo de León won the 2023 presidential elections thanks to the progressive party Movimento Semillaborn from the anti-corruption demonstrations that took place in Guatemala in 2015.

Supporters of Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo remain outside the National Palace of Culture. (Photo by MARTIN BERNETTI/AFP). (MARTIN BERNETTI/)

Without the presence of Giammattei

Outgoing president Alejandro Giammattei did not appear in person at the National Theater for the handover ceremony and sent the institutional symbols through his secretary.

Your vice president, Guilherme Castilloof those who have been away since 2020, He was present at the ceremony and handed over the position to chemical biologist Karin Herrera.

Giammattei sent his personal secretary to deliver the presidential sash to Congressconfirmed by several sources, and also stated that he would not be inaugurated by the new ruler.

“Given the risk of arriving at midnight without starting the formal acts, at this moment I presented the symbols of the Presidency to the Congress of Guatemala“, stated the outgoing president through his official communication channels.

Guatemalan law stipulates that the president must leave office this Sunday, after taking office four years ago.on January 14, 2020, at the beginning of his term as governor.

Giammattei delivered his final government report last Fridaydespite the fact that since the establishment of democracy in 1986, all presidents who have resigned have appeared in Congress on January 14 to be replaced.

The new president of the Guatemalan Congress, Samuel Pérez, from the Semilla Movement. (Photo by JOHAN ORDÓNEZ/AFP). (JOHAN ORDONES/)

Also the presidency of Congress

The deputy from Arévalo de León’s party, Samuel Pérez Álvarez, was also elected this Sunday president of the Guatemalan Congress for the period 2024-2025, after reaching agreements with different parties and adding the necessary 90 votes.

Pérez Alvarez31 years old, became the youngest president of the Legislative Body in the history of the Central American country since the establishment of democracy in 1982 and was responsible for Arévalo de León’s investment.

The triumph of Pérez Alvarez in the vote for the presidency of the Congress It’s a surprise, since Seed Movement It has only 23 deputies out of the 160 that make up the Legislature

The losing ticket, with 75 votes, was that of the deputy Sandra Jovelof the Valor party, of former presidential candidate Zury Ríos, and allied with the political group Vamos, of the outgoing president, Alejandro Giammattei.

According to several sources, A triumph for Jovel, former chancellor during Jimmy Morales’ government (2016-2020), would have put Arévalo de León’s investiture at riskwhich was finally carried out under pressure from the international community and hundreds of protesters in the streets.

Source: Elcomercio