Newly-elected Guatemala President decries seizure of ballots as 'coup'
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President-elect Bernardo Arevalo calls for the resignation of the prosecutors who ordered the seizure of ballots, describing them as "coup plotters".
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Guatemalan President-Elect Bernardo Arévalo talks with reporters in Guatemala City, Monday, Sept. 4, 2023 (AP)
President-elect Bernardo Arevalo ignited a political contention on Tuesday, demanding the resignation of Guatemala's Attorney General, Consuelo Porras, along with special prosecutor Rafael Curruchiche and judge Fredy Orellana, AFP reported.
The call for their resignations came in response to a controversial raid this morning by prosecutors to seize ballots from the June 25 election, which Arevalo described as an attempt at a coup.
At a press conference, Arevalo stated, "The coup plotters must resign." He accused the aforementioned officials of straying from their constitutional duties, alleging that they were actively involved in a "clear coup d'état in progress."
Arevalo, a 64-year-old social democrat, had previously pulled off a stunning upset in the election, securing his place in a runoff election scheduled for August 20. The attorney general's office had sought to suspend Arevalo's Semilla party before his eventual victory, which raised international concerns over potential election interference.
Rafael Curruchiche, the special prosecutor, claimed that the recent raid was initiated in response to a "citizen complaint" regarding alleged irregularities rather than any investigation into Semilla, the party to which Arevalo belongs.
Irma Palencia, the president of the election body responsible for the ballots, expressed deep concern over the seizure, calling it "unprecedented and worrying." Despite this development, she asserted that the contents of the boxes could not be altered at this stage, and Arevalo's election remained valid.
In #Guatemala's presidential election, Bernardo #Arevalo, a member of the new #Semilla political party, emerged victorious, ousting the previous administration, which was strongly pro-#US. pic.twitter.com/soN6Hj3znv
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) August 26, 2023
In response to the escalating situation, Arevalo announced his decision to temporarily suspend his participation in the transition process with outgoing President Alejandro Giammattei. He stated that this suspension would persist until "necessary institutional political conditions are reestablished."
Read more: Why Arevalo's victory is a loss to the US
Back in August, it was announced that leftist Bernardo Arevalo secured a resounding victory in Guatemala's presidential election with his "anti-corruption" agenda.
His campaign, which resonated strongly with weary voters, was reportedly focused on combating corruption that has plagued the country for years.
The triumph marked a significant departure from the predictions of pre-election polls and positions.
