Guatemala’s President-elect Arevalo Slams Attempt to Scrap Election Results
GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala – President-elect Bernardo Arevalo of Guatemala has strongly criticized a legal move by prosecutors to invalidate his election victory, describing it as an attempted coup. Arevalo, known for his anti-corruption efforts, has faced a series of investigations since his surprising success in the first-round election back in June. His center-left Seed Movement party has been targeted by the Attorney General’s office, which has alleged irregularities in the party’s registration several years ago.
The United States and other Western countries have expressed their support for Arevalo, stating that the investigations are a concerted effort to undermine both the president-elect and democracy in Guatemala.
During a press conference on Friday, Arevalo vehemently denounced the allegations, labeling them as absurd, ridiculous, and perverse. He reassured the public that he would be taking office as scheduled on January 14, despite the ongoing attempts to challenge his victory. Arevalo emerged triumphant in the August runoff vote, securing a landslide win over his establishment-friendly opponent.
Earlier, the Attorney General’s office had announced its intention to annul the results of the first-round election, citing irregularities in voter registrations and data collected on the day of the June vote. However, the head of Guatemala’s top electoral court, Blanca Alfaro, firmly stated that a repeat of the election would not take place. Alfaro emphasized that the election results are unchangeable and emphasized that any attempt to prevent Arevalo, a duly-elected official, from assuming office would constitute a violation of the constitutional order and should not be allowed.
Meanwhile, the Organization of American States, based in Washington, condemned what it referred to as an attempted coup d’état orchestrated by Guatemalan Attorney General Consuelo Porras and her associates.
Brian Nichols, the US Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs, took to the social media platform X to condemn the move, warning of potential consequences. He described it as another blatant, unacceptable attempt to defy the will of Guatemalans. Nichols emphasized that such actions put Guatemala’s market-friendly reputation in jeopardy and would be met with a strong response from the United States.
The situation surrounding Arevalo’s election victory has generated significant interest both locally and internationally. Many see him as a beacon of hope for the fight against corruption in Guatemala. The president-elect’s strong stance against the attempt to invalidate his election results has garnered support from various quarters, including Western countries that see his victory as a step towards strengthening democracy in the region.
As the pressure mounts and the legal battle intensifies, the eyes of the world will be on Guatemala. The coming weeks will undoubtedly be crucial in determining the future of the country and the course it will take under President-elect Bernardo Arevalo.
