Guatemala Under Political Turmoil as Government Targets Leading Opposition Candidate Bernardo Arevalo

The second leg of the Guatemala elections, a presidential runoff between opposition candidate Bernardo Arevalo and former First Lady Sandra Torres, is now in question as political turmoil grips the country. This came after the current administration under President Alejandro Giammattei decided to intervene in the June 25 election.

Arevalo is a vocal critic of the current administration but was not polling well prior to the July 25 vote. However, voters surprisingly backed him up during the first leg of the elections, becoming one of the two candidates to qualify for next month's Runoff Election alongside Torres.

However, according to CNN, the center-left candidate has been targeted by the government as of late, as more and more disillusioned Guatemalans flock to his side, possibly giving him an upset victory against Torres.

Arevalo's Movimiento Semilla party is currently being investigated by the Special Prosecutor's Office Against Impunity (FECI) for allegedly falsifying citizens' signatures. This specific targeting is casting doubts into the August 20 runoff election.

The FECI alleged that the party had at least 12 deceased people register for the elections. The office also accused the party of paying "approximately US$22,000 in exchange for 5,000 signatures with the aim of reaching the minimum necessary to become a political party and participate in elections."

Despite all the challenges arrayed against him, Arevalo still insisted he will run against Torres next month and that he would file complaints against the lower court judge, attorney general, and special prosecutor for trying to block his run.

Bernardo Arevalo Speaks Out Against Government Efforts To Target Him

The government has already raided the country's election tribunal offices to look for evidence to back claims that Arevalo's party is responsible for dead people voting. Another raid was also expected to take place at the party's headquarters, but that is now unlikely after the high court issued an injunction.

Movimiento Semilla party candidate Bernardo Arevalo decried these raids, calling them political in nature, according to the Associated Press.

Meanwhile, his opponent, Sandra Torres, actually showed solidarity with Arevalo, saying that she is halting her campaign in protest against the government's actions.

We want to demonstrate our solidarity with the voters of the Seed party and also with those who came out to vote," said the conservative UNE Party candidate. "As a candidate, I want to compete under equal conditions."

International Watchdog Group Calls Accusations Vs. Bernardo Arevalo Illegal

As political turmoil grips Guatemala, other countries and international organizations, including the US and the EU, are watching closely.

According to NPR, an independent watchdog group called Mirador Electoral stated the investigation on Arevalo and his party amounted to an "open act of illegality."

US Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Brian A. Nichols stated that the US government is worried about the developments happening in Guatemala.

He stated on social media, "We are deeply concerned by threats to Guatemala's electoral democracy. Institutions must respect the will of voters."

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

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