Arévalo’s challenge in Guatemala is to stop the “democratic deterioration,” according to deputy

The biggest challenge for the Government of Bernardo Arévalo de León be “stop democratic deterioration” in Guatemalain the opinion of deputy Román Castellanos, from the Semilla Movement, the party of the president-elect who will take office on January 14 in the midst of the conflict generated by the Prosecutor’s Office’s attempts to prevent it.

In an interview with EFE, the legislator affirms that there is an urgent need for “stop the democratic deterioration that has taken hold in Guatemala,” promoted by all State agencies, including Congress, “where initiatives that contravene democracy have been proposed.”

Castellanos, who was re-elected as a deputy of the Semilla Movement for the period 2024-2028, also warns that the continuity of Consuelo Porras as attorney general is the greatest threat to the stability of the Central American country, with around 17 million inhabitants.

“The continuity of Consuelo Porras in the Public Ministry is a threat to democracy and obviously could have implications for the plans of the next Government, but the people will be aware of who will be responsible for the difficulties”assures Castellanos.

The Constitutional Court, Guatemala’s highest court, said this December that Porras can only be removed from her position as Attorney General if there is a prior conviction against her, in response to requests that sought to facilitate the official’s dismissal.

“The persecution of the Public Ministry against Bernardo Arévalo and against members of our party has not undermined the leadership of the elected president, but has promoted him as a moral reference and a national leader”said the deputy of the Semilla Movement, which was born from the anti-corruption fight in Guatemala during 2015 and 2016.

Arévalo de León, 65, will take office on January 14 after several months of judicial persecution by the Public Ministry, which has tried in various ways to reverse the results of the elections held this year in Guatemala.

This situation of crisis and uncertainty has forced entities such as the Organization of American States (OAS) and the United States Government to closely and closely accompany the command transition process.

Initiatives and alliances

Castellanos, 38, is part of the 23 elected congressmen of the Semilla Movement for the period 2024-2028, which will make the progressive party the third force in Congress, with 160 seats.

“We know that we will go from being the opposition to being the official party and we will need alliances to form a majority, as well as consensus to legislate in favor of the people,” Castellanos highlights.

The official legislator points out the imperative of “build laws that promote fundamental freedoms”as well as “work on issues of security, economy, environmental protection, with a legislative agenda that includes generating living conditions.”

During the last legislature of Congress, dominated by deputies related to the outgoing president, Alejandro Giammattei, it approved controversial loans, tried to promote amnesty for soldiers accused of war crimes and wanted to increase prison sentences for abortion.

All this is due, in Castellanos’ opinion, to the fact that the “legislative agenda” It moves “with the oil of corruption”, due to the purchase of the will of deputies by corrupt actors.

A historic victory

The electoral victory of the Semilla Movement in the last elections was surprising to everyone and everyone, because it was a non-traditional party and did not even appear among the main five favorites, according to the polls.

“Winning an election that was designed for the continuity of the regime of corruption and impunity, which had arranged everything to continue governing, was a rupture of the system driven by the youth who are already tired of the same thing,” points out the congressman.

This victory caused the leadership of the Prosecutor’s Office, led by actors sanctioned by the United States, to try to annul the results by kidnapping the electoral votes, as well as criminal proceedings against Arévalo de León.

However, attempts to “coup”, As Arévalo de León has called them, they have been blocked by “the uprising to defend democracy” by indigenous organizations and the population, says Castellanos.

The deputy highlights that the crisis experienced in the country in recent months “marks a before and after“, which could allow “a participation” leading role of indigenous peoples and youth in Guatemalan politics.