Guatemala Prosecutors Seek to Strip President-elect of Immunity

Prosecutors in Guatemala are seeking to strip President-elect Bernardo Arevalo and several members of his party of their immunity for allegedly making social media posts that encouraged students to take over a public university in 2022.

Prosecutors in Guatemala have announced their intention to strip President-elect Bernardo Arevalo and several members of his party of their immunity. The move is based on allegations that they made social media posts encouraging students to take over a public university in 2022.

Legal Salvo Against Arevalo

The announcement was made by Cultural Heritage prosecutor Angel Saul Sanchez at a news conference. It comes amid ongoing legal challenges faced by Arevalo, who won the presidential election in August. The United States government, the Organization of American States (OAS), and other international observers have expressed concerns that these legal attacks are an attempt to prevent Arevalo from assuming power in January.

Motivations Denied

Attorney General Consuelo Porras and outgoing President Alejandro Giammattei have denied any political motivations behind the legal actions against Arevalo. However, since his victory in the August runoff, prosecutors have pursued his party on accusations of wrongdoing related to the gathering of signatures for party registration years earlier. A judge even suspended the party at the request of prosecutors.

Crimes Under Investigation

In the new case, prosecutors plan to pursue charges of aggravated usurpation, sedition, and illegal association against Arevalo and other members of his party. The alleged crimes stem from the takeover of San Carlos University, Guatemala's only public university, by students in April 2022.

Student Protests

The students claimed that the election of the university's new rector, Walter Mazariegos, was fraudulent. They accused Mazariegos of only allowing those who would vote for him to cast their ballots. The US State Department imposed sanctions on Mazariegos for "suffocating democratic processes" and assuming the position of rector through fraudulent means. The student occupation of the university lasted until June of this year.

Arevalo's Response

In response to the latest legal actions, Arevalo called the Attorney General's Office's actions against his party "spurious and unacceptable." His statement came a day after the OAS permanent council approved a resolution referring to Guatemala's Attorney General's Office as an "undemocratic actor" attempting to "discredit and impede" the democratic transition of power.

Intimidation and Activism

Marcela Blanco, a young activist from Arevalo's party, took to social media to report that agents had come to her home to arrest her and were intimidating her. She asserted her status as a citizen and her opposition to corruption, seeking support from the public.

The legal challenges faced by President-elect Bernardo Arevalo in Guatemala continue to raise concerns about the country's democratic institutions. The stripping of immunity sought by prosecutors and the ongoing investigations against Arevalo and his party members have drawn scrutiny from international observers. The situation will undoubtedly impact the nation's political landscape as it awaits the transfer of power in January.