Francisco Santos
Bogota Colombia
The embarrassing scandal generated by the Guatemalan congress, delaying the inauguration of the new president Bernardo Arévalois just the last episode in a film of corruption, use of public powers and political manipulation from all sides that leaves that country and a part of its political class in a very bad position.
The first thing is to recognize that Guatemalan society is far above that sector of the ruling class that tried to prevent the arrival of Arévalo to the Presidency. It gives a respite, and some optimism, to know that the Guatemalans did not allow themselves to be influenced or coerced by those who tried to prevent Arévalo from passing the first round, who also tried to prevent him from running for the second round and having his victory recognized. , to finally have to see how he took possession in front of the entire international community.
The story involves the president of Guatemala Alejandro Giamattei and his partner, Nicolás Martínez, by the way, sanctioned by the United States Department of the Treasury for flagrant acts of corruption. Both characters knew that if Arévalo went to the second round he would sweep them in the runoff and they would lose the impunity they needed due to the corruption problems that they both have.
Bernardo Arévalo, born in Uruguay, is the son of Juan José Arévalo, who was president of Guatemala from 1945 to 1951, a period of democracy that would die 3 years later when the United States and the CIA sponsored a coup against the democratic president Jacobo Arbenz. This is undoubtedly relevant, since The intervention of the United States in the most recent electoral process was almost as brutal and obvious as that of 70 years ago.
When Arevalo moved on to the second round, Martínez began to operate to stop what for them was a political disaster. They tried to stop him by alleging fraud and to pressure the Electoral Court they opened an investigation against him for a contract. 108 congressmen ousted some members of that court and that is where the intervention of the White House began in a flagrant manner. They took away the visas of those 108 congressmen, something never seen in the history of the continent. Washington’s message was clear, Arévalo goes to the second round.
Arévalo won overwhelmingly, since the boredom of Guatemalans with the Giammattei government was absolute., something similar to what is happening today in Colombia with Gustavo Petro. Candidate Sandra Rojas refused to recognize the result, but President Giammattei did recognize Arévalo’s victory. However, he promoted another action to stop it, by trying to invalidate his Semilla party, accusing it of using false signatures in the creation of this political organization. The same thing had happened 4 years ago, but everything was resolved.
The American pressure continued and the unprecedented issue of the congressmen’s visas was enough ‘incentive’ for all the courts would align and give Arévalo the winner; However, the lawsuit against the creation of the movement and the signatures continued, they disqualified the party and that created a mess in Congress.
Finally, Bernardo Arévalo took office. A decent man, social democrat, who condemns the dictatorships of Maduro and Ortega. His appointments to the cabinet have been of technical people, although some without experience; The truth is, the coming to power of this symbolic figure is a respite for Guatemala and, perhaps, the beginning of a political turn in a country where drug trafficking and corruption are systemic.
The stupidity of that ruling class that tried to prevent the arrival of Arévalo did a great favor to the populism of Gustavo Petro, since his actions gave legitimacy to the false discourse that he displays on the continent – and obviously in his country – that there is a right that does not want change and clings to power. Not to mention the gift they gave to Iván Velásquez, who left through the back door for using the CISIG to engage in politics and replace justice instead of strengthening it. Velásquez and the CISIG vindicated themselves. How awful.
The new president of Guatemala, Bernardo Arévalo de León, greets, during his investiture ceremony today, at the Miguel Ángel Asturias Cultural Center, in Guatemala City (Guatemala). Bernardo Arévalo de León was inaugurated today as president of Guatemala for the period 2024-2028 in a solemn session at the National Theater in the Guatemalan capital ten hours late and after an eventful transition not exempt from “coup d’état” attempts denounced by the new ruler since his electoral victory last August. EFE/ David Toro