Guatemala City, September 12 (RHC)-- The president-elect of Guatemala, Bernardo Arévalo de León, asked for the judicial persecution against his social democratic party Semilla to cease.   Arévalo insisted that the judicial actions against his political party affect the process of transition and investiture as president of Guatemala as of January 2024.

It is worth mentioning that the president elect is meeting with the outgoing president, Alejandro Giammattei to continue with the process of transfer of power.  For his part, Giammattei committed himself to "carry out an orderly and high quality transition" and offered Arévalo a physical space in the National Palace of Culture to maintain "constant communication" to carry out the transition process.

Despite the statements of the outgoing president, Arevalo insisted that "it is necessary to cease the process of political persecution and judicial intimidation that is underway by the institutions of justice." 

It should be recalled that the elected president denounced last August 1 a "coup d'état" plan that would prevent him from taking office in January, even though Giammattei swore "to give his life" for Arevalo to take office on January 14. 

"I assure you and if my life is necessary for you to take office there you have it, but you will be the next president of Guatemala, whether I like it or not, what matters is that the people elected you", argued the president a few days ago.

On this occasion and in front of the press, Giammattei kept his word and guaranteed to keep it for next January.  "As head of state I guaranteed you a week ago and I guarantee you today (that) you will take office on January 14, that is the decision of the people of Guatemala. It will be good, it will be bad, that does not matter, and that decision is respected," he said.

After Arevalo's electoral victory during the first presidential round, the Attorney General's Office started an investigation process that would damage the legal status of the Semilla party.   The argument of the Prosecutor's Office insisted on alleged anomalies in its registration for 2017.  Despite the evidence, the Constitutional Court revoked the ruling and allowed Arevalo to compete in the second round. 

By last Tuesday, the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) declared the progressive Arévalo as the winner and handed him and his vice-president-elect Karin Herrera the credentials accrediting him as president-elect.

Arévalo thanked for the credentials and said that the TSE magistrates are a central element in the process of defending democracy in the country.  However, despite being president elect, Bernardo Arévalo insists that there is a persecution against his political party that seeks to impede the transition process of his nation.