The Deputy Undersecretary for Central America, Eric Jacobstein, reiterated the concern of the United States about the political situation in Guatemala, and about the transition of the government to the president-elect Bernardo Arévalo, who denounced a “coup d’état in progress”,” which tried to prevent him from owning on January 14, 2024.
Jacobstein indicated in a press conference that the new visits of US officials, the sanctions issued against three government officials, and the Withdrawal of visas from another 14 Guatemalans is an indication that the United States is closely following what is happening in Guatemala.
“We reject the continuous efforts that seek to undermine the peaceful transition of power to the elected president,” said the undersecretary and added: “our goal is to strengthen our relations between the United States and Guatemala, that’s why we support the transition. .”
In addition, he reiterated that the raids carried out in the Public Ministry where election materials were taken, the request for the dispersal of the protesters, and the pressure exerted to remove the Minister of the Interior, David Barrientos, from duty, which protects the rights of the peaceful. demonstrations, actions taken to “undermine the democratic transition.”
So, he said, They use the tools the law allows them to send a message to those promoting these actions.
He emphasized that, although he could not know exactly the future sanctions, “we will continue to use the tools we have, as long as there are efforts, like today, to undermine democracy in the future months.”
On October 31, two former officials and one current official of the government of President Alejandro Giammattei were declared “ineligible” to enter the United States, because according to the statement of the Department of State, they accepted bribes in exchange for doing their duties. , during their mandates.
In this regard, the Secretariat of the Presidency of Guatemala reacted by saying that “the government of Guatemala rejects any foreign interference in internal affairs and any impairment of the fundamental human rights of Guatemalans such as legitimate defense and the presumption of innocence.”
In addition, he explained that the move is “not binding” because there is no complaint before the entity in charge of criminal investigation in the country.
About seed suspension
After the election process on Tuesday, this Thursday, the spokesman of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal, Luis Gerardo Ramírez, assured that, in compliance with the order of the seventh criminal court, the Citizen Registry suspended the legal personality of the Semilla Movement, where Bernardo Arévalo won the presidency.
Because of this, Undersecretary Eric Jacobstein indicated that they rejected the efforts made to endanger the status of the party.
In addition, he said that they hope that President Alejandro Giammattei will speak publicly about the actions of the Public Ministry. However, he assured that, although there are “big powerful” actors who continue to try to block the transition process, they are confident that the majority of Guatemalans want a democratic transition, both civil society and members of the private sector.
