Guatemalan prosecutors have announced plans to initiate charges against President-elect Bernardo Arévalo and the vice president-elect, a move that has sparked controversy and accusations of political interference. During a press conference on Thursday, the prosecutors revealed their intention to request the Supreme Court to remove immunity from Arévalo and several members of his party, citing their alleged involvement in damages caused by a 2022 protest at San Carlos University.
According to the prosecutors, Arévalo’s social media posts during the protest period had incited students to occupy the university. These posts included expressions of support for the students’ protest against the election of a new rector, who was accused of corruption by the students. Additionally, it was claimed that Arévalo’s center-left Seed Movement party utilized university buildings for planning their 2023 presidential campaign.
Prosecutor Ángel Saúl Sánchez stated that the evidence led to the legal conclusion that crimes had been committed by these individuals. The prosecution team plans to ask a court to strip Arévalo, Vice President-elect Karin Herrera, and other key allies of their immunity to enable the filing of charges.
This development is the latest in a series of efforts aimed at dislodging Arévalo, who emerged as a surprise victor in the presidential election with a landslide victory. His anti-corruption stance and unexpected electoral success came despite attempts by the ruling elite to eliminate nearly all opposition candidates through legal maneuvers. Interestingly, Arévalo was initially underestimated and left on the ballot due to poor polling.
The United States has issued a statement condemning these actions against Arévalo as blatant attempts to undermine Guatemala’s peaceful transition of power.