Misplaced Pages

Presidential transition of Bernardo Arévalo

Article snapshot taken from Wikipedia with creative commons attribution-sharealike license. Give it a read and then ask your questions in the chat. We can research this topic together.

Presidential transition of Bernardo Arévalo
President-elect Bernardo Arevalo (left) and president Alejandro Giammattei during their first meeting at the presidential residency
FormationSeptember 2023
PurposePresidential transition
Co-chairs
Key peopleBernardo Arévalo
Karin Herrera
This article is part of
a series aboutBernardo Arévalo
Political career
Presidency
Elections
Family
Bernardo Arévalo's signature

Bernardo Arévalo, the president-elect of Guatemala, completed his transition to the presidency upon being sworn in on the 15th of January 2024. He became the candidate of Semilla in January 2020. Vice-president-elect Karin Herrera led Arévalo's transition team.

Arévalo's presidential transition has been atypical in the history of Guatemala, as the Attorney General's Office has repeatedly initiated various and controversial legal proceedings against the Semilla party, its members, Arévalo himself and the electoral process. These actions have generated widespread condemnation both nationally and internationally, since they are considered to threaten the presidential inauguration, and have been described by Arévalo and the Organization of American States as an "attempted coup d'état". His swearing-in, which was originally scheduled to take place on 14 January 2024, would instead be held minutes after midnight on 15 January 2024.

Background issues

Main article: 2023 Guatemalan general election

The 2023 general election were a highly controversial electoral process, which was characterized by the exclusion of leading and anti-establishment candidates such as Carlos Pineda (who, according to polls, was poised to win the first round), Thelma Cabrera and Roberto Arzú. As well as the excessive judicialization of the electoral processes throughout the registration and campaign. Although it was not the first election in which leading presidential candidates were disqualified, in 2019 general election, candidates Thelma Aldana from Semilla and Zury Ríos from Valor were unable to participate. According to InSight Crime, the exclusion of candidates is one of many recent examples of the "presence of political mafias in the current Guatemalan government, which use control of the courts to eliminate their opponents".

After Pineda's exclusion from the race, polls indicated that Edmond Mulet of Cabal was shaping up to go to the runoff with Sandra Torres of the National Unity of Hope. But Mulet began to be the subject of investigations by the Attorney General's Office, led by Rafael Curruchiche, head of the Special Prosecutor's Office against Impunity, one of the closest collaborators of Attorney General María Consuelo Porras. The results of the first round surprisingly showed that Bernardo Arévalo from Semilla had qualified to go to a second electoral round with Torres.

Shortly after the first round of elections, several establishment political parties alleged "electoral fraud" and days later, the Attorney General's Office announced an alleged corruption case involving the Semilla party and requested that its legal personality be suspended. This case was also led by Curruchiche. The headquarters of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal was raided several times, raids were also reported at the headquarters of the Semilla party. The Constitutional Court issued a legal resolution protecting the runoff. Arévalo won the elections with 61% of the votes. National Unity of Hope and Torres did not accept the electoral result and alleged electoral fraud. Later, the Attorney General's Office carried out several raids at the headquarters of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal, opening the boxes with the electoral ballots and seizing them. In one of the raids, the prosecutors were covered and mistreated the electoral magistrates. Protests in favor of Arévalo also intensified following the Supreme Court of Justice upholding the party's suspension, his supporters called for a "national strike" and blocked dozens of roads throughout the country. The 48 cantones of Totonicapán and the indigenous authorities of several communities have taken a leading role in the demonstrations, and have held a sit-in in front of the headquarters of the Attorney General's Office and have said that they will withdraw until President-elect Arévalo takes office. They have also organized several walks and have supported the president-elect's public calls.

The legal personality of the Semilla party was suspended in November 2023. In mid-November, the Attorney General's office requested that the immunity of the President-elect Arévalo and the Vice President-elect Herrera be withdrawn for allegedly participating in the takeover of the facilities of the state university, the Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala, which occurred between April 2022 to June 2023. University professors and students, as well as members of the Semilla party, were also captured. At the same time, an investigation was initiated against officials of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (including electoral magistrates) for alleged anomalies in the purchase of the computer system for the transmission of preliminary results and requested the withdrawal of immunity. The Supreme Court of Justice approved the process and passed it to Congress. However, the president of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal Blanca Alfaro and the substitute magistrates presented a legal appeal before the Constitutional Court to avoid the loss of their immunity. The Court accepted the appeal and stopped the procedure, while it rejected another similar legal resource presented by the other four titular magistrates. A legal process was also initiated against Vice President Guillermo Castillo, who has been estranged from President Alejandro Giammattei since 2020. The chairs of the legislative investigative commissions of the electoral magistrates and Vice President Castillo publicly denounced threats to expedite the procedure so that the plenary session can vote to withdraw the immunity of those investigated. Late at night on 27 November, Congress lifted the immunity of the four titular magistrates by a qualified majority of the pro-government coalition. Hours later, the four magistrates left the country after having requested a "leave".

On 8 December, the Attorney General's Office presented another advance in the case of the Semilla party and once again requested the removal of immunity from Arévalo and member of Congress Samuel Pérez Álvarez. Furthermore, the Attorney General's Office openly said that the Supreme Electoral Tribunal had made administrative errors during the organization of the electoral results and therefore, the electoral process was "null", and that it should be "annulled", thus confirming the intention to subvert the election results, although they denied it.

International reactions

The United States has been using the "Engel List" to sanction actors they consider key to undermining democracy. On the other hand, they sanctioned Miguel Martínez, a close ally of President Giammattei, with the Magnitsky Act. In addition, several US officials and politicians have made ongoing visits to monitor the transition process. On 8 December, at the time that the Attorney General's Office requested that the electoral process be "annulled", a bicameral Democratic group made up of Tim Kaine, Dick Durbin, Jeff Merkley, Laphonza Butler, Peter Welch, Norma Torres and Delia Ramirez was arriving in the country. Republican Senators Bill Cassidy and Marco Rubio also condemned the events in Guatemala. Department of State Spokesperson Matthew Miller announced that they imposed sanctions on more than 300 individuals, including more than 100 members of Congress and businessmen and their families.

The Organization of American States has been monitoring the situation continuously. Secretary General Luis Almagro made continuous visits to the country to supervise the transition process, he also established a mission made up of the former Minister of Defense of Uruguay Luis Rosadilla, the OAS ambassador in Guatemala Diego Paz, the diplomat Liliana Ayalde and the former Vice President of Panama Isabel Saint Malo. The ambassadors to the OAS, Josué Fiallo and Washington Abdala, from the Dominican Republic and Uruguay respectively, gained national notoriety for their passionate interventions in favor of democracy. While Almagro has been particularly critical of the attorney general's actions and has described them as a "coup d'état". Colombian Defense Minister and former head of the International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala Iván Velásquez Gómez said that the "eyes of the world must be on Guatemala".

The United Kingdom and the European Union condemned the actions of the Attorney General's office. The European Union announced that personal sanctions will be imposed on those responsible for "undermining" democracy. The United Nations and Mercosur also joined the condemnations.

A group of conservative presidents of Ibero-America (including José María Aznar, Vicente Fox and Álvaro Uribe) expressed their concern about the events and described it as a "judicial persecution" against Arévalo. The leftist Puebla Group (including Ernesto Samper and José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero) also made a statement in favor of Arévalo and called the actions in Guatemala an "anti-democratic conspiracy". A group of Ibero-American writers led by Mario Vargas Llosa, Rubén Blades and Gioconda Belli issued a statement demanding that the electoral result be respected. The Socialist International issued a statement in which they asked to respect the electoral results and supported the president-elect.

Transition procedures

Process preparation

The transition began to be planned in January 2023 at the instruction of President Alejandro Giammattei.

The process consists of four phases:

  • Planning: from February to April of the same year, activities were carried out for the government transition, policy evaluation, and multi-year planning workshops, with the objective of communicating guidelines to various entities.
  • Draft transition reports: From May to June, the first institutional folders were formed to organize all government information.
  • Meetings with sectors and second draft: from July to September, the first meetings are held with the cabinet or the president-elect's team and a second draft of the transition roadmap is made.
  • Review, roadmap and final report: from October 2023 to January 2024, where the final adjustment is made and the procedure is concluded.

Arévalo transition process

Vice President-elect Karin Herrera, President Alejandro Giammattei, and Secretary-General of the OAS Luis Almagro gathered for the final presidential transition meeting, December 2023.

On the night of the runoff, President Alejandro Giammattei congratulated Arévalo on his victory and invited him to the Presidential House to begin the presidential transition process. It was announced that the Organization of American States would be part of the transition process.

The first meeting between the outgoing president Giammattei and the president-elect Arévalo took place on 4 September at the Presidential House; the Secretary General of the OAS Luis Almagro was also present. At the meeting, Arévalo announced that he suggested modifications to the proposed timeline of the transition process. Giammattei also announced that at Almagro's suggestion, offices would be set up in all government institutions so that the president-elect's team could participate in the activities. President Giammattei chairs the transition committee, while President-elect Arévalo appointed Vice President-elect Karin Herrera as the chairwoman of the presidential transition committee. Outgoing Vice President Guillermo Castillo opted for a separate transition process and invited Vice President-elect Herrera to a series of scheduled meetings with the various cabinets in his charge.

On 11 September, a second meeting was held between Arévalo and Giammattei, with Almagro again present. This time, the meeting was held at the National Palace. Giammattei delivered the information from each government institution to the president-elect's team.

On 6 December, the final report of the presidential transition process was delivered. This time, Vice President-elect Herrera represented the incoming government, and President Giammattei presented her with the final documents. Secretary General Almagro was present. At the event, Giammattei reiterated that he would hand over power to the elected ticket, while Herrera asked Giammattei to "take into account" the requests of the elected government. On the other hand, Almagro criticized the Attorney General's office and asked that the "cannibalization of politics".

Arévalo's wife, Lucrecia Peinado, began meetings with various groups to learn about their demands. She also met with former first ladies Raquel Blandón, María Eugenia Morales and Evelyn Morataya.

Transition team

On September 4, 2023, the first meeting between outgoing President Alejandro Giammattei and President-elect Bernardo Arévalo was held to define the presidential transition route, the secretary general of the Organization of American States Luis Almagro was also present, who will accompany the transfer of command until the inauguration of Arévalo in January 2024. Both Giammattei, Arévalo and Almagro announced to their team that they will be part of the transition process.

Giammattei's transition team

The outgoing government transition group is led by the President of the Republic Alejandro Giammattei. The Minister of Labor and Social Security Rafael Rodríguez Pellecer is the second in charge of the team.

  • Alejandro Giammattei President of Guatemala Team coordinator Alejandro Giammattei
    President of Guatemala
    Team coordinator
  • Rafael Rodríguez Pellecer Minister of Labor and Social Welfare Second in charge Rafael Rodríguez Pellecer
    Minister of Labor and Social Welfare
    Second in charge
  • Keila Gramajo Secretary of Planning and Programming of the Presidency Technical coordinator Keila Gramajo
    Secretary of Planning and Programming of the Presidency
    Technical coordinator
  • María Consuelo Ramírez Secretary General of the Presidency Legal advisor María Consuelo Ramírez
    Secretary General of the Presidency
    Legal advisor
  • Geovanna Estrada Private Secretary of the Presidency Agenda coordinator Geovanna Estrada
    Private Secretary of the Presidency
    Agenda coordinator
  • Kevin López Oliva Secretary of Social Communication of the Presidency Spokesperson Kevin López Oliva
    Secretary of Social Communication of the Presidency
    Spokesperson

Arévalo's transition team

The transition group of the elected government is led by the vice president-elect of the Republic Karin Herrera.

  • Karin Herrera Vice-president-elect Team coordinator Karin Herrera
    Vice-president-elect
    Team coordinator
  • Jonathan Menkos Deputy-elect Economic & Financial advisor Jonathan Menkos
    Deputy-elect
    Economic & Financial advisor
  • Abelardo Pinto Advisor to the president-elect Technical coordinator Abelardo Pinto
    Advisor to the president-elect
    Technical coordinator
  • Christian Espinoza Head Advisor of Semilla Christian Espinoza
    Head Advisor of Semilla
  • José Carlos Sanabria Deputy-elect Dialogue coordinator José Carlos Sanabria
    Deputy-elect
    Dialogue coordinator
  • Juan Gerardo Guerrero Garnica Member of the Central American Parliament Legal advisor Juan Gerardo Guerrero Garnica
    Member of the Central American Parliament
    Legal advisor
  • Lourdes Hercules Journalist Spokesperson Lourdes Hercules
    Journalist
    Spokesperson

Transition team of the Organization of American States

The group of the Organization of American States (OAS) that accompanies the transition process of command is led by Luis Almagro, secretary general of that organization.

  • Luis Almagro Secretary General of the OAS Luis Almagro
    Secretary General of the OAS
  • Gustavo Cinosi Special advisor and delegate Gustavo Cinosi
    Special advisor and delegate
  • Diego Paz Bustamante Diego Paz Bustamante
  • Isabel Saint Malo Former vice-president of Panama Isabel Saint Malo
    Former vice-president of Panama
  • Liliana Ayalde U.S. Ambassador Liliana Ayalde
    U.S. Ambassador
  • Rodolfo Camarosano Rodolfo Camarosano
  • Francesca Sterling Francesca Sterling

References

  1. ^ "Fiscales en Guatemala piden anular las elecciones presidenciales que ganó Bernardo Arévalo y la OEA denuncia "un intento de golpe de Estado"". BBC News (in Spanish). 8 December 2023. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
  2. D., Sonia Pérez (15 January 2024). "Bernardo Arévalo sworn in as Guatemala's president despite months of efforts to derail inauguration". Associated Press. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
  3. ^ "Las elecciones de la rabia silenciosa: Guatemala vota por el menor de los males". El País (in Spanish). 24 June 2023. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
  4. "Guatemala: elección sin candidatas". Deutsche Welle (in Spanish). 13 June 2019. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
  5. "Élites de Guatemala se fortalecen tras eliminar al principal candidato presidencial". InSight Crime (in Spanish). 26 May 2023. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
  6. "MP pide que le retiren la inmunidad a Edmond Mulet por criticar persecución penal contra periodistas". Prensa Libre (in Spanish). 20 March 2023. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
  7. "FECI no se queda solo con antejuicio: denuncia a Mulet en el TSE". La Hora (in Spanish). 21 March 2023. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
  8. González Díaz, Marcos (26 June 2023). "Quiénes son Sandra Torres y Bernardo Arévalo, la eterna candidata y el aspirante sorpresa que se disputarán la presidencia de Guatemala". BBC News Mundo (in Spanish). Retrieved 8 December 2023.
  9. "Guatemala's high court steps into election, suspends release of official results". AP. 2 July 2023. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
  10. "Juzgado ordena la suspensión de la personalidad jurídica del Movimiento Semilla". Prensa Libre (in Spanish). 12 July 2023. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
  11. Gramajo, Sonia (20 July 2023). "Guatemala contender decries police raid on party HQ before crucial runoff". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
  12. "El Tribunal Electoral de Guatemala denuncia un atropello de un sector judicial y pide protección constitucional". El País (in Spanish). 21 July 2023. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
  13. "Guatemala court permanently blocks suspension of Seed Movement party ahead of Sunday's election". AP News. 19 August 2023. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
  14. "UNE de Sandra Torres denuncia fraude electoral en Guatemala". Deutsche Welle (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-08-26.
  15. "La UNE sigue sin aceptar resultados de elecciones y señala "ilegalidad" en su oficialización". Prensa Libre (in Spanish). 28 August 2023. Retrieved 2023-08-29.
  16. "Raids of Guatemala's Electoral Body Lead to Protests and Restrictions from U.S." Latin Times. 2 October 2023. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
  17. "Guatemala's top court upholds suspension of president-elect's party. His supporters block roads". AP News. 6 October 2023. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
  18. "Más allá del día, la noche. Así resisten los pueblos indígenas frente al MP". Agencia Ocote (in Spanish). 18 November 2023. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  19. "Guatemala electoral authorities suspend President-elect Bernardo Arévalo's party". Associated Press. 2 November 2023. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  20. Miranda, Wilfredo (3 November 2023). "Guatemala electoral authorities suspend president-elect Bernardo Arévalo's Seed Movement". El Pais. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  21. "MP solicitará retirarles la inmunidad a Bernardo Arévalo, Karin Herrera y otros funcionarios por caso de toma de la Usac". Prensa Libre (in Spanish). 16 November 2023. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
  22. Miranda, Wilfredo (17 November 2023). "El Ministerio Público de Guatemala busca sabotear el traspaso de poder con un nuevo caso contra Bernardo Arévalo". Prensa Libre (in Spanish). Retrieved 21 November 2023.
  23. "MP solicita retiro de inmunidad a los magistrados del TSE por supuestas irregularidades en compra del TREP". Prensa Libre (in Spanish). 27 September 2023. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
  24. "Magistrados del TSE, a punto de perder inmunidad". www.soy502.com (in Spanish). 7 November 2023. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
  25. "Antejuicio: la CC solo ampara a Blanca Alfaro y a los suplentes". La Hora (in Spanish). 21 November 2023. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
  26. "Pesquisidora del vicepresidente Guillermo Castillo suspende labores hasta enero de 2024". Prensa Libre (in Spanish). 29 November 2023. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
  27. "Diputada de oposición guatemalteca denuncia la usurpación de sus funciones". Swiss Info (in Spanish). 16 November 2023. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
  28. "Diputado Montano vuelve a denunciar amenazas, ahora contra su familia". Prensa Libre (in Spanish). 24 November 2023. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
  29. "62% de los diputados que votaron a favor de retirar la inmunidad a magistrados del TSE no fueron reelectos". Prensa Libre (in Spanish). 2 December 2023. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
  30. "Magistrados del TSE que perdieron la inmunidad salen de Guatemala confirma Migración". Prensa Libre (in Spanish). 1 December 2023. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
  31. "Caso "Corrupción Semilla" : Las fases y los hallazgos que presentó el MP sobre la formación del partido y los resultados electorales". Prensa Libre (in Spanish). 8 December 2023. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
  32. "MP asegura que las elecciones "deberían de anularse" por supuestas irregularidades en actas de votaciones por parte del TSE". Prensa Libre (in Spanish). 8 December 2023. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
  33. "Cómo las sanciones de Estados Unidos se han acercado al círculo del presidente Giammattei". La Hora (in Spanish). 8 December 2023. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
  34. "Delegación del Congreso de EEUU visita Guatemala en momentos "de oportunidad y gran peligro"". Voz de América (in Spanish). 9 December 2023. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  35. "Senador republicano: GT Perderá el respeto internacional si desconoce elecciones". La Hora (in Spanish). 8 December 2023. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  36. "Estados Unidos retira visa a más de 100 diputados de Guatemala". www.soy502.com (in Spanish). 11 December 2023. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  37. "Giammattei se reúne con delegados de la OEA, tras retomar proceso de transición". La Hora (in Spanish). 29 September 2023. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  38. "La OEA enviará a Luis Rosadilla a mediar en Guatemala". Deutsche Welle (in Spanish). 8 October 2023. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  39. "Embajadores ante la OEA se pronuncian por Guatemala y piden más acciones". Deutsche Welle (in Spanish). 5 December 2023. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  40. "Luis Almagro, secretario de la OEA, asegura que el proceso de transición "ha sido golpeado" por acciones del Ministerio Público". Prensa Libre (in Spanish). 6 December 2023. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  41. "OEA condena "intento de golpe de Estado en Guatemala" por acciones del MP". Prensa Libre (in Spanish). 8 December 2023. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  42. "Criticaron al ministro Iván Velásquez por pedir fijarse en Guatemala mientras Colombia está "ardiendo"". Infobae (in Spanish). 9 December 2023. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  43. "Ministro del Reino Unido para las Américas David Rutley se pronuncia por situación en Guatemala". Prensa Libre (in Spanish). 9 December 2023. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  44. "Embajador de la Unión Europea anuncia que preparan sanciones "contra los responsables del intento de golpe de Estado" en Guatemala". Prensa Libre (in Spanish). 10 December 2023. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  45. "Crece rechazo por acciones de fiscalía de Guatemala ante posibilidad de anular resultados elecciones". Los Angeles Times (in Spanish). 9 December 2023. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  46. "28 exjefes de Estado del Grupo IDEA denuncian persecución judicial contra Bernardo Arévalo y Karin Herrera, binomio presidencial electo". Los Angeles Times (in Spanish). 18 November 2023. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  47. "GUATEMALA ESTÁ VIVIENDO UN GOLPE DE ESTADO PROGRESIVO CONTRA EL PRESIDENTE BERNARDO ARÉVALO Y LA VICEPRESIDENTA KARIN HERRERA". Grupo de Puebla (in Spanish). 21 November 2023. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  48. "Escritores de Iberoamérica respaldan a guatemaltecos que "luchan por la democracia"". Swiss Info (in Spanish). 11 October 2023. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  49. @Soc_Intl (December 9, 2023). "Please find attached the Statement on Guatemala from the Socialist International. #Guatemala @sanchezcastejon @mslasi" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  50. ^ "Nuevo gobierno: Las 4 fases de la transición de mando al 14 de enero y qué recibirían las autoridades entrantes". Prensa Libre (in Spanish). 28 August 2023. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  51. "Giammattei felicita a Bernardo Arévalo por ganar la Presidencia de Guatemala y le ofrece desde ya una "transición ordenada"". Prensa Libre (in Spanish). 20 August 2023. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  52. ^ "Así inicia el proceso de transición del gobierno de Giammattei a Bernardo Arévalo". Prensa Libre (in Spanish). 4 September 2023. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  53. "Transición en Guatemala: el presidente Alejandro Giammattei volvió a reunirse con su sucesor Bernardo Arévalo". Infobae (in Spanish). 11 September 2023. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  54. "Gobierno presenta informe de transición y presidente Giammattei reitera que entregará el mando el 14 de enero". Prensa Libre (in Spanish). 6 December 2023. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  55. "La foto de cuatro de las Primeras Damas de la era democrática de Guatemala". www.soy502.com (in Spanish). 7 December 2023. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  56. "Gobierno de Giammattei amplía información sobre inicio de transición del poder a Arévalo" (in Spanish). 2023-09-05. Retrieved 2023-12-20.
  57. "Esto dice Bernardo Arévalo tras el primer día del proceso de transición de mando". www.soy502.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-12-20.
  58. "Transición: este es el equipo de confianza que acompaña a Bernardo Arévalo y Karin Herrera". Plaza Pública (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-12-20.
  59. Mutz, Viviana. "Quiénes acompañan a Luis Almagro en el proceso de transición en Guatemala". República.gt (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-12-20.
Categories: