Protests Intensify In Guatemala As Thousands Continue Demanding Senior Prosecutors' Resignation

Guatemalans intensified their protest on Thursday as they continued to demand the resignation of prosecutors who have been accused of blocking the newly elected president, Bernardo Arevalo, from taking office.

Arevalo won the elections last month by an overwhelming margin. However, Attorney General María Consuelo Porras allegedly made an effort to disqualify his party, Movimiento Semilla, even ordering raids on the electoral authority's offices and seizing ballots.

Protester Luis Pacheco, head of indigenous organization 48 Cantones, said they would "paralyze the country indefinitely" and emphasized their call for Porras' resignation," Reuters reported.

Pacheco spoke while standing outside Porras' office, located in Guatemala City. The group has been protesting outside the attorney general's office since Monday while waving the national flags and showing sign boards demanding an end to corruption in the country.

"Get out coup plotters," one of the signs read.

The Semilla party was dissolved last month due to alleged registration issues. The prosecutor's office said these actions against the party were lawful.

Arevalo's campaign revolved around corruption. The polls have long been over, but the president-elect seems to be fighting ahead of his inauguration, which is scheduled to take place in January 2024. Now citizens are accusing Porass because she launched the investigation against the party after Arevalo received strong support in June.

Outgoing president Alejandro Giammattei nominated Porras as attorney general during his term. Since then, he has remained quiet about the investigations and raids.

These raids have drawn criticism internationally and triggered anger in people. Other groups like those of rural farmers, teachers and students have also gone out on the streets to demand the resignation not only of Porras but also of one of her top prosecutors, Rafael Curruchiche.

The president-elect, on the other hand, has received international support since his election win. For instance, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said on Wednesday that his country would help Guatemala by cooperating with its incoming administration.

Meanwhile, administrator Samantha Power of the United States met with Arevalo and congratulated him for winning the election.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the United States Agency for International Development agency disclosed that Power and Arevalo discussed partnership opportunities between both nations as well as ways to enhance transparency and accountability of sectors like public institutions, health and education.

In a Thursday post on X, formerly Twitter, Power wrote, "Guatemala's President-elect @BArevalodeLeon was overwhelmingly elected to lead his country forward."

"In our meeting, we spoke about ensuring the will of the Guatemalan people is respected and working together to strengthen democracy, prosperity & security," she added.