Tempers are flaring as Guatemala's presidential inauguration is postponed
Opponents of anti-corruption crusader Bernardo Arévalo postponed his inauguration as president of Guatemala on Sunday, further increasing political tensions in Central America's most populous country.
Confusion surrounding the transfer of power emerged shortly after Guatemala's highest court on Sunday allowed conservative members of Congress who opposed Mr. Arévalo to retain control of the chamber.
After that statement, arguments among lawmakers flared up in the House around noon, when Congress was expected to officially appoint Mr. Arévalo as president. Some members of Congress went behind closed doors; As they continued to deliberate, other lawmakers claimed they were trying to derail the transfer of power, fueling bewilderment and frustration across the country.
“These are the latest strategies that corrupt elites are using to prevent a democratically elected government from coming to power,” said José Ochoa, 64, a small business owner who was among the hundreds who took to the streets of the old center of people flocked to Guatemala City to show support for Mr Arévalo on Sunday.
Dozens of his supporters tried to push past police barricades to reach Congress on Sunday afternoon. As emotions flared on the streets of the capital, it remained unclear whether congressional leaders would take part in a ceremony to hand power to Mr. Arévalo — or if the ceremony would take place at all.
Mr. Arévalo won Guatemala's presidential election by a wide margin in August and faced a barrage of legal attacks from prosecutors, judges and political leaders aimed at preventing him from coming to power. He has Sunday said that he and his running mate, Karin Herrera, would become president and vice president of Guatemala at 4 p.m. local time, according to Guatemalan law.
It remained unclear how the situation would progress. Celebrations were planned in Guatemala City, but the mood on the streets turned sour as the delay continued.
“This is an abuse of power,” said José Inés Castillo, a member of Congress who accused others in the House of “plotting a coup.” Like Mr Castillo spoke to reporters there, cries of “golpistas” or “coup plotters” could be heard in the background.
The confusion surrounding the inauguration played out as dignitaries from around the world arrived in Guatemala for the ceremony, including a U.S. delegation led by Samantha Power, administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, and two Democratic congressmen from California, Norma J. Torres and Lou Correa.
Several heads of state from Latin America, including Presidents Gabriel Boric of Chile and Gustavo Petro of Colombia, also came for the inauguration, as did King Felipe VI of Spain.
The transition of power in Guatemala has been anything but orderly, marked by arrests, rumors of arrests and fears that officials opposing Mr. Arévalo would go even further to prevent his inauguration. Mr. Arévalo's opponent in the presidential race, a former first lady, refused to acknowledge his victory.
There has been speculation in recent days that prosecutors would demand the arrest of Mr. Arévalo's running mate, Ms. Herrera, potentially derailing the inauguration because both the president-elect and vice-president-elect must be present for the transfer of power to be legitimate. let it be.
Guatemala's highest court has handed down a verdict order last week she protected Ms. Herrera from arrest, granting her and Mr. Arévalo a reprieve.
In October, protests in support of Mr. Arévalo exploded in Guatemala, developing into a general strike that paralyzed much of the country's economy. As demonstrators gathered again in the capital this weekend, some said they were prepared to take to the streets again if Mr Arévalo was not allowed to take office.
“This is a coup,” said Victoria Tubin, an indigenous leader and professor of social work at the University of San Carlos. “The resistance will continue.”