Guatemala is in the process of electing its next president. In the first round of elections in June, the anti-corruption party Semilla frustrated the predictions by obtaining enough votes to reach the second round, which takes place on August 20. Semilla's astonishing performance came despite efforts by election authorities to disqualify candidates who threaten organized crime's grip on the country's political system.
Since the June 25 elections, parties linked to the current system and various state institutions have unsuccessfully tried to reverse the vote.
On July 1, 2023, a coalition of nine rival political parties filed a lawsuit in the Constitutional Court (CC) contesting the results, even though international election observers from the Organization of American States (OAS) and the European Union (EU) indicated no significant issues during the vote.
On July 12, 2023, the Superior Electoral Court made the results official, confirming that Bernardo Arevalo, Semilla's candidate, would run against Sandra Torres, candidate of the National Union of Hope, in the second round of the August 20 elections. But, while the Electoral Court held a press conference to formalize the results, the Attorney General's Office, whose director is barred from entering the United States for alleged links to organized crime, announced the disqualification of the Semilla party.
On the morning of July 13, 2023, armed agents of the Attorney General's Office invaded the Superior Electoral Court, seizing files related to Semilla and the recent elections, and the army was deployed to the city center.
Thousands of Guatemalans are on the streets to defend democracy and the result of the June 25 vote.
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There is a very present danger of violent repression.
We urgently need your support!
CLICK HERE to download the template letter to send to your region's member of parliament (click here to find your MP)
You also can send the letter to:
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Honorable Melanie Joly
melanie.joly@international.gc.ca
Ambassador of Canada to Guatemala
Rajani Alexander
gtmla@international.gc.ca