(CNN) — US President Joe Biden congratulated Guatemala's President Bernardo Arevalo and Vice President Karin Herrera on their inauguration, in a statement released by the White House on Monday.
“The ties between Guatemala and the United States run deep, and today's inauguration is a historic testament to our shared commitment to democracy and the will of the people,” Biden said in a White House statement.
The President added that he looks forward to continuing a strong partnership between the two countries in promoting civil liberties, strengthening civilian security, fighting corruption, addressing the root causes of migration and expanding economic opportunities for people in our hemisphere and beyond. the world.”
After a chaotic Sunday, the inauguration was delayed by nine hours as the opposition-controlled Congress debated the admission of incoming lawmakers, who must be sworn in before the president.
The delay sparked protests outside Congress, in which Arevalo supporters were seen fighting with police, video from the scene showed.
Other world leaders congratulated Arévalo on his inauguration, including European Commission President Joseph Borrell, who called Guatemala's new government the start of a new chapter.
“A new chapter opens. “The EU will stand with the people of Guatemala and their institutions, defend the rule of law and promote social solidarity,” Borrell wrote on the social media site “X” on Monday.
Taiwan's foreign ministry on Monday extended “warm congratulations” to Guatemala “for its democratic process” and said they look forward to “elevating” bilateral relations. Foreign Minister Joseph Wu attended the swearing-in ceremony.
Brazil's Vice President Geraldo Alcmin, who attended the inauguration, shared his praise for the inauguration on Monday through “X,” saying “democracy prevailed.”
“I represented President Lula at the inauguration of President Bernardo Arevalo. The electoral process in Guatemala faced serious threats, but democracy prevailed,” Alcmin said.
“The threats against President Lula's inauguration reinforced our belief in the importance of support from the international community and the importance of instruments such as the OAS Democratic Charter to protect democracy in the Americas,” he added.
The president of Chile, Gabriel Boric, shared with his followers on “X” that he spoke with President Arevalo on Monday and that he was calm before the inauguration.
“He is calm, and despite recent crude attempts by some sectors to prevent him from taking office, this day he will assume full responsibility as president of Guatemala,” Boric said.
Guatemala's then-elected president, Arevalo, in early September accused powerful factions in the country's justice system of engaging in what he called a “conspiracy” that opposed his victory in the August 20 presidential election.
Arevalo said during the news conference that the groups, led by the country's attorney general, are trying to break the constitutional order and violate democracy.
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