A Guatemalan court temporarily suspends the party of the elected president – Jovem Ban

Bernardo Arevalo, candidate of the Similla Party

Supreme Electoral Court in Guatemala Party suspended Similaby the elected president Bernardo Arevalo. The decision was taken on Monday, the 28th of this month, and was criticized by deputies who classified the measure as “illegal” and part of “political persecution” ahead of its scheduled inauguration on January 14. “The General Directorate of Citizens Registration decides to temporarily suspend the registration of the legal entity of the Simela Movement Political Party Constitution Committee,” the decision of the Electoral Court, which accepted a controversial request from the Public Prosecution, stated. Since before the second round, which was held on August 20, an attempt has been made to implement the suspension of the party. Judge Freddy Orellana had ordered, shortly after the first round of the presidential elections on June 25, the suspension of the party, and the activation of a criminal investigation into alleged irregularities in the party’s founding members in 2017. However, the court did not comply with the judge’s order at the time. Because it was not possible to suspend a party in the middle of the electoral process.

Arevalo considered that “the judge’s order” is totally illegal, is part of a process of political persecution, and illegally uses the tools of justice and justice institutions against the Simila movement. On August 20, Arevalo won the second round with 60.91% of the valid votes against 39.09% for Sandra. Torres, which denounced the alleged “fraud” in the elections. On Monday, Orellana’s order was complied with by the head of the Registry of Citizens, Ramiro Muñoz, who primarily responded to the request of attorney Rafael Corruchichi. The United States considers Orellana and Corruchichi to be “corrupt.” Muñoz indicated in the new decision that that “in view of the fact that the second electoral round has so far taken place and the corresponding accounts have been determined, the order of the judge shall be complied with.”

Simultaneously with the suspension, the Electoral Tribunal officially announced the results of the second round. “Decides (…) to declare the citizen César Bernardo Arevalo de Leon legally elected President of the Republic of Guatemala, who has been assigned to the post for a non-extendable four-year term, from January 14, 2024 to January 14, 2028,” said Secretary General of the Court Mario Velasquez at a press conference. . The formalization of the results was “precipitated” by Torres’ party, Unity of National Hope, which on social media pointed to an alleged “rain of anomalies” in the election.

*With information from AFP