The Guatemalan Public Prosecutor’s Office requested the lifting of the immunity of President-elect Bernardo Arévalo and his future ‘number two’, Karin Herrera, over the takeover of the University of San Carlos, in protest against the election process for a new rector of the institution.
According to the Foreign Ministry, Arévalo and Herrera were involved in the seizure of university facilities, where prosecutors believe several crimes were committed: looting of cultural goods, illegal association and influence peddling, Prensa Libre reports.
Similarly, prosecutors from the Property Crimes Unit appointed deputies Samuel Pérez, Román Castellanos, Carlos Barreda and Aldo Dávida, among others. The institute said it would present preliminary tests within 48 hours.
The Superior Electoral Court (TSE) upheld Arévalo’s victory in last June’s parliamentary elections, despite attempts by prosecutors in recent months to annul and even annul the results of the vote to ban President-elect Semilla’s party .
response
Guatemala’s president-elect, Bernardo Arévalo, and his ‘number two’, Karin Herrera, criticized the actions of the Guatemalan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and condemned the prosecution of those who ‘reject’ corruption.
“Persecution is taking place against those who, with strong ideals, have expressed their rejection of a system that favors a small and very voracious group of corrupt people,” Herrera said at a news conference at Human Rights Square, in the country’s capital.
The vice president-elect emphasized that “what the prosecutor is now presenting as an investigation only exposes structures that we already knew existed” and announced that her political party would continue to take legal action.
For his part, Arévalo stressed that “there is no doubt” that “an authoritarian course is being distorted” in Guatemala, as “totally illegal” measures were announced to “sow fear and terror” among the presidential couple elected in the compensated elections . ”. as a member of your political party.
Today, Guatemala is suffering because our institutions are in crisis. (Attorney General) Consuelo Porras’ Ministry of Foreign Affairs does not seek justice, as has become clear, but confirms that it is willing to prosecute innocent people for their political views and ideas.
They chose to follow this path and today we warn the international community, committed to freedom, not to lose sight of this authoritarian process. Democracy in Guatemala is at risk, but we will not allow these measures to stand in the way of the start of the new spring on January 14.
Source: La Neta Neta
Karen Clayton is a seasoned journalist and author at The Nation Update, with a focus on world news and current events. She has a background in international relations, which gives her a deep understanding of the political, economic and social factors that shape the global landscape. She writes about a wide range of topics, including conflicts, political upheavals, and economic trends, as well as humanitarian crisis and human rights issues.
