International News: Guatemalans protest delay of President’s swearing-in ceremony

By Zoila Palma Gonzalez: Guatemalans have once again taken to the streets protesting the delay of the inauguration of President-elect Bernardo Arevalo.

President-elect Arevalo has faced numerous challenges following the August 2023 Presidential elections after he emerged victorious.

The offices of his Semilla political party was raided and the Attorney General’s office indicated that there was an ongoing investigation into Semilla.

But, at that time, Guatemalans took to the streets to demand Attorney General Consuelo Porras to respect their vote in the Presidential elections and accused her of attempting to undermine the nation’s democracy.

The scheduled inauguration was delayed today as many leaders from neighboring countries attended the event including Prime Minister John Briceno.

Supporters who had been waiting for hours to cheer on Guatemala’s new President were fed up with yet another delay, and marched to the building where congress was meeting.

They scuffled with lines of riot police, sweeping them roughly out of their way before gathering outside congress demanding legislators stop delaying and name the delegation that must attend the ceremony.

“If they don’t swear him in, we, the people, will swear him in,” said one of the demonstrators, Dina Juc, the mayor of the indigenous village of Utatlàn Sololá.

Arévalo said that “they are trying to damage democracy with illegalities, inconsequential details and abuses of power.”

Luis Almagro, secretary general of the Organization of American States, said in the name of the foreign delegations attending the inauguration that the congress must transfer power to Arévalo and respect the will of the people expressed in the elections.

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