Guatemalan Constitutional Court orders suspension of officialization of general election results after complaints from political parties

( Spanish) — The Constitutional Court of Guatemala ordered this Saturday the Supreme Electoral Tribunal to suspend the “qualification and officialization” of the results of the general elections on June 25, until a review of the scrutiny is carried out in the Electoral and Departmental Boards, as well as as in the Central District, according to a statement of the Court.

The measure was taken after nine political parties filed appeals against the Supreme Electoral Tribunal, denouncing irregularities in the scrutiny review process, according to a statement from the Constitutional Court.

“While the situations are elucidated,” the Court indicates, the Court “must suspend the classification and officialization of results so that, by the date scheduled for the second round of the presidential election, everything has been duly cleared up,” added .

Government asks the international community for “full respect” for the ongoing electoral process

The Government of Guatemala asked the international community this Sunday for “full respect” for the electoral process that is taking place this year in the country, one day after the decision of the Court.

Through a statement published by the Ministry of Foreign Relations, the Government said that “the principle of sovereignty is unwavering and, therefore, respect for the legality that lays the foundations of our democratic system and its institutional framework.”

“We call to be respectful of the sovereignty of the States, especially the electoral body and the justice sector of a country, the latter being the one who must ensure respect for national legislation and fight against impunity,” it was added in the notice.

After last Sunday’s elections, Sandra Torres, candidate for the National Unity of Hope (UNE) party, won the presidential elections, with 15.04% of the votes. In second place was the career diplomat Bernardo Arévalo, candidate of the Semilla party, who obtained 12.25% of the votes.

With these results, it was expected that Torres and Arévalo would contest the presidency in the second round on August 20.