Tension in Guatemala: Congress resumes the session that called for Arevalo's inauguration as president

On Sunday, Guatemala's Congress resumed its session calling for the presidential inauguration From the democratic socialist Bernardo Arevalo After pDelay of several hours Due to discussions in the process of approving representatives of the new Legislative Council.

The Guatemalan Congress, with a conservative majority, declared Arévalo's representatives independent, without a political party, reducing their ability to maneuver before the Social Democrat was sworn in as the country's president.

According to the Organic Law of the Guatemalan Congress, deputies declared “independent” cannot be part of the unicameral Parliament’s governing body or committees working to support potential legislative initiatives that the future president may propose.

The session finally resumed with the report of the committee for qualifying the representatives who must take the oath, according to what the session broadcast on state television. After this process, The new legislature that will swear in Arevalo must take office.

“Representatives have a responsibility to respect the popular will expressed at the ballot boxes. There is an attempt to violate democracy through irregularities, pettiness and abuse of power. “The Guatemalan people and the international community are watching.” Arevalo denounced the inexplicable delay.

Uncertainty gripped the situation in Parliament, while hundreds of Arevalo's supporters gathered around Congress to protest these delaying maneuvers.

Nine heads of state were invited to attend the event, including King of Spain Felipe VIChilean presidents, Gabriel Borek; colombia, Gustavo Pietroand panama, Laurentino Cortizoamong others, in addition to the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell. every one of them, They demanded that Parliament hand over power to Arevalo.

The president-elect must be sworn in on Sunday for a four-year term, replacing current President Alejandro Giammattei.

““What they are doing here is delaying the inauguration of Congress in its tenth legislative session because they do not want to give Arevalo the property.”Castillo, of the National Unity of Hope (UNE) party, led by former first lady Sandra Torres, which was defeated by Arevalo de León in the 2023 elections, denounced it to reporters.“The coup is being prepared” The lawmaker added.

The chaos in Parliament worsened after a ruling by the Constitutional Court of Guatemala, the country's highest court, which ruled on Sunday that… Simela Movement Party, And suspend the elected president.

the decision It leaves the Semilla movement without the possibility of being part of the Congress Governing Council For the period 2024-2025.

Similarly, The ruling stipulates that the 23 deputies of the Arevalo de León political group must be independent for the period 2024-2028.Without a political party, though, in 2023, the same court has already ordered that all officials elected in the previous year's elections hold office as they were elected.

The suspension stems from a criminal order dated July 12, issued by Judge Freddy Orellana, whom the US State Department accuses of subverting justice and corruption. The criminal case in which Orellana is accused dates back to the case of forged signatures in the founding of the Simela movement in 2018.

Since Arevalo de León came in second place in the presidential elections in June 2023, The Public Prosecutor's Office (Public Attorney's Office) in Guatemala has launched a prosecution to prevent the 64-year-old academic from seizing…Like the deputies of the Similla movement.

On September 1, Arevalo de León accused Prosecutor Consuelo Porras and Criminal Judge Orellana of attempting a “coup” to prevent him from taking office on January 14. Porras' judicial actions have caused mass protests and road blockades by residents demanding his resignation since October, and Arevalo de Leon has warned that he will be asked to resign starting tomorrow.

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