The U.S. government recently announced visa restrictions on nearly 300 Guatemalan citizens, citing their involvement in “anti-democratic actions”. This decision affects over 100 members of the Guatemalan Congress, various private sector representatives, and their family members. The measures are a response to efforts that the U.S. perceives as undermining democracy and the rule of law in Guatemala.
These actions follow the election victory of Bernardo Arévalo, who won the presidency on an anti-corruption platform. Since his landslide win, there have been allegations against members of the Guatemalan Congress and the Public Ministry, led by Attorney General Consuelo Porras. These officials are accused of trying to invalidate the election results. Measures reportedly taken by these officials include raids on the offices of the electoral authority, requests for arrest warrants, and a recent push to strip President-elect Arévalo of his presidential immunity. The Public Ministry has leveled accusations against Arévalo, including money laundering and the use of false documents in establishing his political party, the Semilla Movement.
The U.S. Department of State’s decision to impose visa restrictions is aimed at holding accountable those believed to be involved in these anti-democratic actions. This step underscores the U.S. commitment to supporting democratic processes and the rule of law in the region.
Bernardo Arévalo, set to assume the presidency of Guatemala in January, has recently countered allegations made by the country’s Public Ministry. He described the accusations against his party, which include various crimes and questioning the legitimacy of the elections, as elements of an attempted “coup d’état.” This response came after a turbulent period in Guatemalan politics, marked by significant controversy and international attention.
In a notable move preceding these events, the Guatemalan Congress, following a request from the Public Ministry, resolved to lift the immunity of four out of the five judges of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE). The TSE is the authority responsible for certifying the election results in Guatemala. This action, along with other maneuvers aimed at questioning the election outcome, has led to widespread condemnation from the international community and sparked major protests within Guatemala, the most populous nation in Central America.
The U.S. State Department’s decision to impose visa restrictions on numerous Guatemalan citizens, including lawmakers, was influenced by these developments. The Department pointed specifically to the efforts to revoke Arévalo’s immunity and the issuance of arrest warrants for electoral workers and party representatives as attempts to undermine the legitimacy of Guatemala’s elections and disrupt the peaceful transition of power.
Adding a historical dimension to these events, Arévalo is the son of Guatemala’s first democratically elected president in 1945, who is remembered for establishing the nation’s social security system. Born in Uruguay during his parents’ exile, Arévalo has pledged to support the return of journalists, judges, and prosecutors who fled Guatemala following the shutdown of the CICIG, a United Nations-backed anti-corruption commission.
