Bernardo Arevalo becomes Guatemala’s 52nd President
After hours of delay and chaos in Guatemala’s congress, Bernardo Arevalo was finally sworn in as the country’s fifty-second president. Arevalo and his party, Movimiento Semilla, faced strong opposition from government officials after they won the elections by a landslide in August 2023. Final attempts to prevent Arevalo to take office happened on Sunday in Guatemala City where angry voters condemned crooked politicians and demanded that Arevalo be sworn in. News Five’s Hipolito Novelo was in Guatemala City and has the following report.
Hipolito Novelo, Reporting
After chaos erupted in congress and last-minute efforts to derail his inauguration by corrupt political elite, Bernardo Arevalo was finally sworn in as Guatemala’s fifty-second president in the early hours of Monday morning. Arevalo along with Vice President Karin Herrera and other members of Movimiento Semilla – his political party- won the elections by a landslide in August 2023. Voters want a government free from corruption.
Marco Barrera, Guatemalan Voter
“I voted for democracy. What we want is hope. We want justice. We want equality.”
Arevalo and his party began facing strong opposition by those in power months ago. Following the elections last year, his party was suspended by Guatemala’s Supreme Electoral Tribunal amidst accusation of fraud.
Juan Cortez Garcia, Guatemalan Voter
“It is just fair for them to protect a fraudulent president. That is not right for Guatemalan. What we need to do is conduct the elections again.”
But the majority of voters were clear and adamant about what they want: Arevalo in and the corrupt politicians out. And the fight for political power in Guatemala continued into the night, delaying Arevalo’s swearing-in by more than nine hours. A crowd of Guatemalan voters in front of the Constitutional Plaza began to swell. Meanwhile, a smaller but confrontational crowd formed in front of the congress. This is after members of Movimiento Semilla broke down the doors of congress to participate in the private meeting. Chaos erupted. Politicians who are viewed as corrupt were chased down the streets. One was spat on. Thousands of police officers lined the streets of the capital city, but they too were no match for the frustrated Guatemalan voters. All of this unfolding while presidents and prime ministers were in the country to attending the swearing-in ceremony. King Felipe VI, of Spain, left the country because of security concerns.
Meanwhile, President of Colombia Gustavo Petro and President of Costa Rica Rodrigo Chaves Robles stressed that democracy must be respected.
Gustavo Petro, President of Colombia
“The people of Colombia support the people of Guatemalan in their majority decision to allow the election of the presidency of Arevalo. And in search of a relationship between the two countries that today is fruitful.”
Rodrigo Chaves Robles, President of Costa Rica
“The best wishes of the people of Costa Rica, the people of Guatemala, and that we strengthen democracy in this hemisphere. Obviously, we are waiting for the appointment of Mr. President Arevalo, to see when the Congress of Guatemala will allow that.”
The Secretary-General of the Organization of American States Luis Almagro was also in Guatemala City and after meeting with leaders of the region, including Belize’s Prime Minister John Briceño, he read a declaration, supporting Arevalo.
Luis Almagro, Secretary-General, OAS
“Gathered in the city of Guatemala for the presidential inauguration, we make a call to the Congress of the Republic to comply with its constitutional mandate and to hand over power as required by the Constitution today to the elected president, Bernardo Arevalo, and the elected vice president, Karina Herrera. The Guatemalan people expressed their democratic will in fair, free and transparent elections.”
PM Briceño along with Foreign Minister Francis Fonseca both condemned the actions taken by opposition leaders to prevent the peaceful transition of power.
John Briceño, Prime Minister of Belize
“Guatemala is our neighbor, it’s our close friend, so it is important to continue to show, to strengthen that relationship between both countries. Unfortunately, there seems to be still some uncertainty. Differences between different members in Congress and with President-elect Arevalo. President elect Arevalo should have been sworn in a few hours ago and up. Now we still are not certain as to exactly when that’s going to happen, but I’m hoping that calmer heads will prevail, that common sense will take over. The people in Congress need to understand that we should always respect the right of the people. Democracy must prevail in every modern country, and Guatemala is no different. Congress has a responsibility to ensure that has happened. The people have spoken. It was an open, transparent, and fair election. And Mr. Arevalo and his VP candidate, they won. We need to respect that at all times.”
Francis Fonseca, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Belize
“Belize is very concerned. Um, Guatemala had, as the Prime Minister said, a peaceful, fair election. There has now been for several months now efforts by particular groups in Guatemala, in effect to overturn the will of the people. So Belize strongly rejects that. We condemn that. We are here, the Prime Minister and I came to Guatemala because we want to send a clear signal that we support democracy in Guatemala. We support the new president elect. We want to see a peaceful transition of power here in Guatemala. So we’re very, very concerned.”
And while the battle in congress continued, and leaders of the region flew back to their respective countries, voters’ frustration was increasing. They wanted to see Arevalo be sworn in as the new president. They witnessedPresident Arevalo’s inauguration on Monday morning, just after midnight.
Guatemalan Official
“Can you fulfill with patriotic love the position of President of the Republic for which you have been elected?”
Bernardo Arevalo, President of Guatemala
“Yes, I swear.
Guatemalan Official
“You are hereby legally, legitimately and solemnly in possession of the position of President of the Republic of Guatemala for the constitutional period.”
Reporting for News Five, I am Hipolito Novelo.
