Avast ye! Guatemala's prosecutors be beggin' the court to strip the president-elect of his immunity! The OAS claims 'tis a dastardly coup!
2023-12-08
Arr, mateys! On January 14, Bernardo Arevalo be ready to take the helm, yet scurvy prosecutors be beggin' to strip him o' his immunity! They be claimin' there be some fishy business with them signatures, arrr!
In a surprising turn of events, prosecutors in Guatemala have once again asked a court to strip President-elect Bernardo Arévalo of his immunity. They claim that there were enough irregularities to potentially annul the election results. This move has been branded as "a coup attempt" by the Organization of American States (OAS), marking the third time prosecutors have targeted Arévalo since his election victory in August.The latest request from prosecutors focuses on alleged irregularities in the way Arévalo's party, the Seed Movement, gathered signatures for registration years ago. Several members of the party have been arrested in recent weeks. Prosecutors have previously called for Arévalo's immunity to be revoked over accusations of mishandling party funds and making supportive comments on social media about the takeover of a public university last year.
Amidst these developments, it remains uncertain how this continued targeting of Arévalo and his party will impact his inauguration on January 14. The OAS has condemned the prosecutors' actions, emphasizing that attempts to nullify the election represent a violation of democracy.
Attorney General Consuelo Porras, who has faced months of protests and calls for her resignation, has denied any intention to interfere in the election results, as has outgoing President Alejandro Giammattei. Earlier this month, three magistrates of Guatemala's Supreme Electoral Tribunal left the country after Congress stripped them of their immunity. These magistrates had certified the election result but were criticized for alleged overpayment for software used in the vote count.
Despite initially not being seen as a leading candidate, Arévalo gained momentum with his promise to tackle corruption. As the son of a former president and an academic with expertise in conflict resolution, he positioned himself as an outsider untainted by Guatemala's widespread corruption. However, the country's establishment, fearing the potential consequences of an Arévalo administration, seems determined to weaken his position or prevent him from taking office.
The special committee investigating the Supreme Electoral Tribunal has been urged to act swiftly, as time is running out before Arévalo's scheduled inauguration date.