The United States has expressed concerns about the upcoming inauguration of Bernardo Arévalo as Guatemala’s president amidst actions by the Guatemalan Prosecutor’s Office seeking to remove his immunity. Francisco Mora, the US ambassador to the Organization of American States (OAS), conveyed a lack of optimism in a call with journalists, though he expressed hope that Arévalo would assume office. The situation has cast a shadow over the expected transfer of power, despite the presence of an electoral observation mission sent by the OAS to oversee the process.
The Guatemalan Prosecutor’s Office, led by Attorney General Consuelo Porras Argueta, has faced international criticism for its perceived interference in the general elections and attempts to undermine the Semilla Movement, Arévalo’s political party. The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) has condemned these actions as an abuse of power, calling for an end to such interventionist measures that pose a threat to Guatemala’s democratic integrity and the will of its people.
The controversy escalated when prosecutor Ángel Saúl Sánchez sought to strip immunity from president-elect Bernardo Arévalo de León, his vice-president Karin Herrera, and several party deputies. The investigation focuses on allegations of cultural property depredation, illicit association, and influence peddling linked to an incident at the University of San Carlos in Guatemala in the previous year.
This political turmoil has led to widespread protests across Guatemala, with various indigenous groups actively demonstrating against the actions of the Prosecutor’s Office. The international community, including the United States, remains watchful of the evolving situation in Guatemala as the inauguration of Bernardo Arévalo approaches.