The Organization of American States, the European Union, the United States and foreign delegations called on the Guatemalan Congress to hand over power to Arevalo.

Organization of American States (OAS) and the European Union On Sunday, the European Union called on the Guatemalan Congress to hand over “power as required by the Constitution” to the elected president. Bernardo Arevalo de Leon.

“The Guatemalan people expressed their democratic will in fair, free and transparent elections.” A joint statement issued by “all the delegations invited and represented here” in Guatemala on the occasion of the inauguration of the president-elect confirmed this.

The declaration was read at an impromptu press conference by the Secretary-General of the Organization of American States. luis almagro, After a meeting between the foreign ministers of several countries in the region, they attended the transfer of leadership in the Central American country.

“Gathered in Guatemala City for the presidential inauguration, We call on the Congress of the Republic to fulfill its constitutional mandate “We must hand over power, as required by the Constitution, today to President-elect Bernardo Arevalo and Vice-President-elect Karen Herrera,” Almagro said.

The diplomat added that the “will” of the people reflected in the 2023 elections must be “respected.”

United State On Sunday, he also called on the Guatemalan Congress to “respect the will of the people at the ballot boxes” to make way for the inauguration of the new president. “There is no doubt that Bernardo Arevalo is the president of Guatemala,” the USAID director noted through her channels. Samantha PowerWho heads the American delegation participating in the inauguration ceremony of the new president.

Power, who arrived in the Guatemalan capital on Sunday, added: “We ask everyone to remain calm and we ask the Guatemalan Congress to respect the will of the people.”

Also, the senior official noted that “the world is watching” what is happening in the Central American country, where the new president must take office as head of state for a period of four years.

“We have just finished a press conference, where the Presidency of Costa Rica and the Presidency of Paraguay worked with foreign ministers and heads of delegations to issue a statement in support of the constitutional process that should allow President Bernardo Arevalo to assume power.” “He will be sworn in in the next few hours,” the Paraguayan president said. Santiago Pena.

Gabriel Buric expressed himself along the same lines. “All my support for the legitimate elected President of Guatemala, Bernardo Arevalo. “Democracy always!” said the Chilean president.

Argentina He also turned to X to condemn the delay of the inauguration and He called on all Guatemalan institutions to respect the constitutional order.

Arevalo de León's inauguration, which was hampered because the Guatemalan Congress did not proceed during the morning with the swearing-in of the 160 new representatives of Parliament, as was officially scheduled.

Handing over credentials to new legislators is a prerequisite for the inauguration of the new president.

The tension comes after an electoral process marked by attempts since last July by the Public Ministry (Public Prosecutor's Office) to prevent Arevalo de León from assuming office on Sunday, as stipulated by law.

Luis Almagro has visited Guatemala three times in recent months to oversee the transition process, which must take place with the departure of current President Alejandro Giammattei on Sunday.

Congress is stuck in last-minute debates delaying its inauguration Arevalo has been the target of months of judicial maneuvers that sought to nullify the surprise victory he achieved by promising to fight corruption.

Guatemala's constitution stipulates that Congress must swear in the new president no later than 4:00 pm local time (22:00 GMT), but when this deadline passed, the new parliament had not even been formed.

“Representatives have a responsibility to respect the popular will expressed at the ballot boxes. “They are trying to violate democracy through irregularities, pettiness and abuse of power,” Arevalo wrote on the social network X (formerly Twitter).

The Congress Party, which is mostly right-wing, cannot agree to elect a new board as it debates whether to declare “independence” of Semela de Arevalo lawmakers, under a court order suspending that political movement over alleged irregularities. In her creation.

The delay in the inauguration unleashed unrest among hundreds of Arevalo's followers, including many indigenous people, who forced their way closer to the Parliament House amidst jostling with police. The police have not yet suppressed the demonstration.

Nine heads of state were invited to attend the event, including King of Spain Felipe VIChilean presidents, Gabriel Borek; colombia, Gustavo Pietroand panama, Laurentino Cortizoamong others, in addition to the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell.