Bernardo Arevalo sworn in as Guatemala's president after a nine-hour delay

(CNN Spanish) — Bernardo Arevalo was sworn in as Guatemala's president early Monday, his inauguration delayed for more than nine hours as the opposition-controlled Congress debated the admission of incoming lawmakers, who had to be sworn in before the president.

The delay ended after new lawmakers finally took the oath of office and elected a congressional committee to formally invest the president.

The assembly also annulled a previous congressional decision to designate members of Arevalo's Semilla party as independents, which prevented them from serving on the congressional board of directors and weakened Arevalo's power.

Aravalho will serve as president of Guatemala for the next four years.

In his investiture speech, Arvalo said today was a “profound” day and that his inauguration was a “significant milestone for democratic practice”.

“Accepting this high responsibility deeply honors me, showing that our democracy has the strength to resist. And through unity and trust, we can change the political landscape of Guatemala,” the president said.

The president said that what was happening in Guatemala, like the rest of the world, was a struggle against authoritarianism, and that his country was fighting “with determination and determination.”

“This is the struggle we face in Guatemala, in the rest of Central America and in the world. Wars are being waged against new and old forms of dictatorship that limit people's aspirations and betray their sovereignty. I am proud to confirm that the people of Guatemala are providing the world community with an unexpected example of democratic hope and resilience,” he said. The president said in Guatemala City.

Guatemala's new President Bernardo Arevalo (L) takes the oath of office before the new president of Congress, Samuel Perez, during his inauguration ceremony at the Miguel Angel Asturias Cultural Center in Guatemala City on January 14, 2024. Arevalo was finally sworn in. Guatemala's president on Sunday delayed the ceremony by more than nine hours, ending months of judicial maneuvering to prevent the anti-corruption crusader from taking office. (Photo by JOHAN ORDÓNEZ / AFP)

The delay was so long that many world leaders who had traveled to Guatemala for the inauguration couldn't wait any longer and returned to their countries to attend other engagements. Among them were the presidents of Chile and Paraguay.

In this situation, presidents, chancellors and top officials who attended the inauguration issued a joint statement in which they called on Congress to abide by the law and proceed with Arivalo's inauguration. The statement, supported by the European Union, was read by Luis Almagro, Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS).

During the night Arévalo posted a message on X (formerly Twitter) in which he indicated that he was going to the place where the holy session would continue.