The United States and the European Union accused the Guatemalan government of “undermining the will of the people.”

The United States today accused Friday Guatemala Public Ministry Attempting to “undermine the will of the Guatemalan people” by raiding the headquarters of the Seed Movement, a He is a gesture common to “dictatorships” like Nicaragua.

“Arbitrary and political use of judicial institutions are the actions they use Authoritarian governments, not only in Latin America, but in other parts of the world. We see it in Cuba and Nicaragua. This is part of it Handbook of Dictatorships”, he told the news agency EFE A senior US government official spoke on condition of anonymity.

In turn, the European Union External Action Service reiterated to Guatemalan authorities that they “must fully respect” the integrity of the electoral process and the outcome of the first round of voting, which was certified by the country’s Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE).

“The European Union expresses its deep concern about the actions launched by the Office of the Special Prosecutor against impunity. Arrest warrants against the Deputy Director of the Civil Registry and a member of the Semilla political party and a search of the TSE offices resulted.“, European Diplomacy said in a statement.

The raid is part of efforts by the prosecutor’s office to suspend Semilla, the party that runs progressive Bernardo Arevalo de León, ahead of the second round of elections scheduled for August 20.

The Joe Biden administration is following and considering the issue “very closely.” “Extremely worrisome” are efforts by the Public Ministry to “undermine the will of the Guatemalan people to elect their own leaders.”A senior officer said.

He recalled the U.S. sanction against Rafael Krucic, the special prosecutor against impunity, and Maria Consuelo Borras, the attorney general of Guatemala. Washington is “ready” to use all tools necessary to “protect the people of Guatemala.”

The State Department on Thursday also added Cynthia Monterosso, the Guatemalan lawyer who brought charges against Semilla, and Judge Freddy Orellana, who approved the suspension of the build-up, to its so-called “Engel List” of corrupt officials.

The senior administration official recalled that the Organization of American States (OAS) electoral commission recognized the fairness of the first round held on June 25. “The people of Guatemala will be left” to decide in a second round on August 20.

US Ambassador to Guatemala William Popp has been in contact with all actors, including the Arévalo and Torres campaigns.

The prosecutor’s office’s actions have been rejected by the international community, the official said, and by a “massive mobilization in Guatemala” created by civil society, the private sector and the church.

Guatemala’s Constitutional Court, which has blocked efforts by the prosecutor’s office, reiterated this Friday that a second round of elections scheduled for August 20 should be held with candidates Torres and Arevalo de León.

Arevalo de Leon She managed to advance to second place in the June 25 election after a surprising second-place finish behind the former first lady. Polls put him in seventh or eighth place.

The Semilla group was born out of anti-corruption protests recorded in the Central American country in 2015 and culminated in the fall of the now-imprisoned government of Otto Pérez Molina (2012-2015).

(with information from EFE)

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