Guatemala has been gripped by political protests since the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE), the nation’s apex electoral authority, was purportedly raided for the fourth time by the nation’s Public Ministry (PM) last week. The PM seized election materials amidst a sustained endeavour to destabilise Guatemala’s tranquil transition of power to President-elect Arévalo. The press release by the U.S. Department of State has indicated this development.
The spearhead of this raid was none other than the nation’s highest-ranking anti-corruption prosecutor for the PM, Rafael Curruchiche, who also carries a notorious reputation. In 2022, he had been sanctioned by the United States for obstructing inquiries into corruption against government officials and raising dubious claims against former prosecutors and government officials.
In the throes of primary elections in June, the nation’s PM had allegedly made attempts to revoke the legal status of Arévalo’s party, the Semilla party. Late September, however, saw Curruchiche claiming that the raids on the TSE had no connection to Arévalo or his party leaders. However, some news reports have described police forces physically taking boxes of vote tallies from judges.
Arévalo, the underdog presidential candidate, secured a victory in the Guatemalan presidential election in August with 58 percent of the total votes. Running on an anti-corruption platform, he won against Guatemala’s former first lady, Sandra Torres. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken had a virtual meeting with President-elect Arévalo about the peaceful transition of power in Guatemala and pledged to “use all available tools against those who act to undermine democracy and the rule of law in Guatemala.”
Political protests related to the TSE raid have mushroomed across the nation, resulting in several road blockades, as reported by the US Embassy in Guatemala. Judicial twists, electoral controversy, and ongoing protests continue to colour the political landscape of Guatemala.