Guatemalan Congress at a standstill: Outgoing president accused of undermining de Leon's triumph
On Sunday afternoon, given foreign guests attending the incoming president's inauguration, the induction of new Guatemalan Congressional members — comprising 160 representatives —for the 2024-2028 term was set to occur. Before this, President-elect Bernardo Arevalo de Leon was to recite his oath.
2:05 AM EST, January 15, 2024
The incumbent president of Guatemala defeated right-wing extremist Abelardo Gianmatei, and his supporters criticized certain opposition parliament members for not fulfilling necessary formalities. They posited that these members' formal affiliation with the presidential candidate was doubtful. Backed by the Supreme Court and the Prosecutor's Office, their argument halted the start of Parliamentary proceedings.
Supporters of Bernardo Arevalo de Leon broke through police cordons and usurped the Guatemalan Congress.
New attempt to overturn election results
Preceding this, the attorney general attempted to strip Arevalo and Vice President-elect Karin Herrera of legal immunity, suspend the Grain party, and invalidate the elections.
Arevalo labeled the "coup d'état" attempt a move that prompted tens of thousands of citizens to take to the streets in Guatemala.
Despite the pressure, the international community, including the United States, has failed to convince the Giammattei administration to transfer power peacefully.
International calls for a peaceful transition
The European Union and the Organization of American States have urged the Guatemalan Congress to "surrender power, as mandated constitutionally, to the president-elect Bernardo Arevalo de Leon."
"The Guatemalan people have asserted their will for democracy through free and open elections," — according to the joint statement from all foreign delegations invited to de Leon's induction ceremony in Guatemala.
