Electoral tension in Guatemala eased after a court decision

Guatemala City-. Electoral tension resulting from illegal decisions is easing today in Guatemala, after the position of the Constitutional Court, to which the political campaigns of the presidential spouses are heading to the second round.

That court’s protection came somewhat the day before as a balm, after the Office of the Special Prosecutor Against Impunity announced the suspension of the legal personality of the Seed Movement and raided the registry of citizens at the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE).

This entity responsible for voting, despite threats to its power and against the popular will, has endorsed the candidate of National Unity of Hope, Sandra Torres, and Bernardo Arevalo of Similla, heading into the second round.

Through a statement, as the highest-ranking figure in terms of suffrage and fully committed to the constitution, he declared the validity of the political representatives who won the vote on June 25.

Later, Irma Palencia, an investigative judge who presides over the Supreme Electoral Court, urged citizens in a press conference to remain calm, trust the electoral authority and help consolidate democracy.

Around the same time, hundreds of Guatemalans gathered outside the Public Prosecution Office’s headquarters to protest an attempt to disrupt the movement of the Seeds.

Participants accused Prosecutor Maria Consuelo Porras of being a “coup leader” and a “terrorist”, as well as disavowing the position of the head of the Anti-Corruption Public Prosecutor’s Office, Rafael Koruchich.

It was the latter who accused the Syed movement of allegedly forging signatures to establish itself as a political party in 2018.

In the middle of the demonstration, Arevalo arrived at the district attorney’s office to file a complaint against Korocesh and Judge Freddy Orellana.

“Thank you that the Constitutional Court sided with truth and justice today, and today we begin the first day of the campaign,” said the diplomat and former congressman.

“The corrupt tried to steal our elections, but that was not possible thanks to the Guatemalan people,” added the sociologist by profession and writer.

Local media described similar protests in Quetzaltenango, Antigua Guatemala, Huehuetenango, San Pedro, Sacatepéquez, San Marcos, Copan, and other cities.

He pointed to the continuation of the wave of statements, such as those of the Rafael Landívar University, which reiterated the call to defend democracy in order to have a promising future.

The Seed Movement will be touring western Guatemala, starting today in Quetzaltenango, Saturday in Tononicapán and Sunday in Sacatepequez.