Guatemala’s Presidential Showdown: Test for Democracy Underway in High-Stakes Election
Voting kicked off on a Sunday morning in Guatemala for the crucial presidential run-off election, seen as a litmus test for the country’s democracy.
Bernardo Arevalo, the progressive candidate from the Movimiento Semilla (Seed Movement), is making his stand on an anti-corruption platform. Recent polls indicate that he’s leading the pack.
Challenging Arevalo is Sandra Torres, a former first lady, who is making her third bid for the presidency. She has garnered support from outgoing President Alejandro Giammattei.
A Rocky Road to the Runoff
In the lead-up to the polls last month, there was drama as police conducted a raid on Arevalo’s party headquarters. He criticized this as a clear case of “political persecution.” The Attorney General’s Office cited a court order from July 12, suspending the legal status of Arevalo’s center-left party. The suspension was due to allegations of falsifying signatures during the party’s establishment for the purpose of participation.
Just days before the presidential runoff, the Supreme Court of Justice intervened and issued a permanent injunction in favor of Arevalo’s party, overturning the earlier suspension order by the lower court.
It’s noteworthy that the attorney general who ordered the suspension of Semilla’s party had previously been placed on the US State Department’s list of “corrupt and undemocratic actors,” known as the Engel list.
Keeping a Close Watch on the Outcome
In parallel, the Organization of American States (OAS), a regional oversight forum, deployed a team of 86 election observers to monitor the proceedings. Eladio Loizaga, the head of the OAS mission in Guatemala, emphasized the importance of allowing citizens to express themselves freely and ensuring that their voices are respected.
Guatemala stands as Central America’s most populous nation and the region’s largest economy. However, it grapples with widespread poverty and violence, leading to a significant emigration of hundreds of thousands in recent years.
By: M Z Hossain, Editor Sky Buzz Feed
