United States: Mr. Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, the Brazilian President, has warned that Guatemala faces a “risk of coup.” The statement made during his address to the United Nations General Assembly prompted a rebuke from the Guatemala’s outgoing President Mr. Alejandro Giammattei.
Speaking from the UN headquarters in New York, Mr. Lula raised concerns that the result of Guatemala’s 2023 presidential elections could be overturned. “In Guatemala, there is a risk of a coup, which would impede the inauguration of the winner of democratic elections,” the Brazilian President said during the general debate.
Hours later, Mr. Giammattei pushed back against Mr. Lula’s allegations. “Contrary to the supposed truths we’ve heard from this podium today, I will hand over power to the person who was elected in the elections,” Mr. Giammattei commented while condemning “unnecessary international involvement” in the election.
“That involvement and interference were unnecessary because our democracy is not perfect, but it has been a democracy that has allowed us to have a peaceful handover of power and respect for the constitution,” the outgoing President added.
The arguments came a day after the US Ambassador to the Organization of American States Mr. Francisco Mora stated that Washington was concerned about efforts to undermine democracy in Guatemala.
Mr. Mora pointed to recent actions by Guatemala’s top prosecutor’s office that appear to target President-elect Mr. Bernardo Arevalo, the anti-corruption candidate who won the August 20 run-off election. Since he emerged as a frontrunner in the election, Mr. Arevalo has seen his political party, the Seed Movement, threatened with suspension.
“In a healthy democracy, institutions don’t tamper with ballot boxes after election results have been officially certified by the appropriate authority,” Mr. Mora noted. In addition, the US Ambassador called the act “an assault on the rule of law” and called on authorities in Guatemala to end their “intimidation efforts.”
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