( Spanish) – The Citizen Registry of the Supreme Electoral Court of Guatemala canceled the legal personality of the Semilla Movement party after the order of Judge Fredy Orellana, of the Seventh Pluripersonal Court of First Criminal Instance, in accordance with the ruling issued this Thursday.
Semilla is the party that brought Bernardo Arévalo to the presidency, who took office in January after defeating Sandra Torres, of the National Unity of Hope party, in the runoff.
In July 2023, the Public Ministry (MP) initiated a criminal accusation against Semilla, pointing out irregularities in the training process, since, according to the authorities’ investigation, more than 5,000 citizens had been registered through falsification of documents, and another group had died before.
Arévalo and other Semilla leaders have described these actions by the MP, headed by the attorney general, Consuelo Porras, as political persecution. has requested comments from the Prosecutor’s Office on these allegations, but has not received a response.
Arévalo has requested that Porras’ immunity be withdrawn and has repeatedly asked for her resignation, citing “breach of duties,” something that she argues “lacks legal basis.” In turn, the prosecutor has unsuccessfully taken legal action against the president to strip him of his immunity for alleged improper payments, accusations that the Government denies.
Since September 2021, the United States Department of State sanctioned the Attorney General of Guatemala, María Consuelo Porras, accusing her of obstructing and interfering with corruption investigations, allegations that the MP has rejected. Consequently, Porras or his immediate family members cannot enter the United States.
The Council of the European Union has also joined the condemnations of Porras and other Public Ministry authorities for carrying out “actions that undermine democracy, the rule of law or the peaceful transfer of power in Guatemala,” according to a statement issued at the beginning of February.
A few days later, the Government of Canada announced that it applied sanctions to the Attorney General of Guatemala, Consuelo Porras and other officials of the Public Ministry and a judge, whom it accused of undermining democracy and the rule of law.
Those accused have rejected the accusations under the argument that they are only complying with the law.
Samuel Pérez, deputy of Semilla, said that the ruling should not come into force because on Tuesday the Guatemalan Congress approved a reform to the Law against organized crime that prohibits judges from suspending the registration of political organizations.
The head of the Special Prosecutor’s Office Against Impunity (FECI), Rafael Curruchiche, told the media this Friday that the ministerial actions have been technical and legal, and that anyone who disagrees with the resolution can challenge them.
The president of Congress, Nery Ramos – of the Blue Party -, an ally of the president, said at a press conference that on Thursday they received notification from the Court about the cancellation of Semilla, but that the Supreme Electoral Court had not yet communicated its decision to them.
According to Ramos, given that the Constitutional Court had temporarily suspended, while their legal situation was defined, Semilla’s deputies are not part of the Board of Directors nor can they chair committees.
Add Comment