the socialist
The results of the first electoral round in Guatemala were truly surprising. The people’s rejection of the current political system was reflected in 964,775 invalid votes – almost one million – and 388,363 blank votes. The true winner of the first round was the almost one million null votes, above the 888,924 votes obtained by the candidate Sandra Torres, from the National Unity of Hope (UNE) party, who was in first place in valid votes.
While true for the common citizen the results were a pleasant surprise, for the ruling cabal it has not been. The political parties related to the ruling mafia have been applying a plan to maintain the status quo of power. These power groups made undemocratic changes to the electoral system, inhibited candidacies with popular roots, such as that of Thelma Cabrera of the Popular Liberation Movement (MLP) and that of the center-right outsider candidate, Carlos Pineda, of the Citizen Prosperity party.
And once the preliminary results of the first round were published, the trips and low blows began, from the groups that tried to stop the participation of the candidate Bernardo Arévalo, from the Semilla party, who had come in second place with 653,486 valid votes. according to official data from the Superior Electoral Tribunal (TSE).
The first attack consisted of filing appeals for annulment of the preliminary electoral result of the first round, demanding the recount of the votes, paralyzing the procedures to call the second round. For three weeks stupor, insecurity, and uncertainty prevailed about where Guatemala was headed.
There was talk of a technical coup and the supposed intention of President Giammattei to remain in power in the midst of an institutional vacuum. To calm the social unrest, Giammattei addressed a message to the nation, clarifying that he respected the Constitution and that he was not going to remain in the presidency beyond the four years of his term.
The fight between the State institutions – the Constitutional Court, the Supreme Court of Justice and the TSE – was intense, with the objective of delaying the official results, with a clear intention of, firstly, removing Bernardo Arévalo from the game and, secondly, Second, tie him hand and foot in case he won the second round, as seems to be the trend.
All eyes were on Guatemala, the most important country in Central America. As expected, the State Department expressed concern about the course of events. Pressures and counter-pressures at the national and international level intensified. The first popular protests took place in the streets, which, although not massive, reflected popular discontent over the manipulation of the electoral process.
Finally, the TSE issued agreement No. 1328-2023, on July 12, making the results of the first round official, and officially calling the second round for August 20. It was shown that the accusations of electoral fraud were false, since after the recount the results at the presidential, deputy and mayoral level were the same, there was a change of 0.4%.
To top it off, the public ministry, controlled by the mafias in power, proceeded to initiate a criminal investigation and a lower judge declared Semilla’s legal status dissolved, in open violation of article 92 of the Guatemalan Electoral Law, which prohibits canceling the legal personality of any party, once the electoral process has begun. The public ministry raided the offices of the TSE, deepening the institutional chaos.
As we stated last fortnight, important changes are coming in Guatemala, a powder keg waiting to explode. The forces of reaction, entrenched in State institutions, are implementing a resistance plan to maintain the status quo, but with this they are deepening the crisis. The cancellation of Semilla’s legal personality is another phase of pressure against Bernardo Arévalo, who intends to leave his deputies within Congress without parties, to limit the possibility of organizing parliamentary blocs.
The outlook is clear. From the Central American Socialist Party (PSOCA), without trusting the candidates and the timidly reformist program of the Semilla party, we call to close ranks in the second round, we call for a critical vote for Bernardo Arévalo. We call on the MLP and the URNG-WINAK alliance to join this campaign for the critical vote in the second round in favor of Bernardo Arévalo.
A change of government in Guatemala, which breaks the continuity of reactionary governments and the current status quo of power, will be an incentive to revive the democratic illusions of the broad popular masses and will open a gap for their active participation in the next period. The die is cast, then the fight will come to demand that the possible government of Bernardo Arévalo fulfill his promises and force him to always go further. ________________________________________
Source Central American Socialist Party (PSOCA)
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