Central America

Bernardo Arévalo calls for dialogue on crisis in Guatemala

Photo: @BArevalodeLeon

October 19 |

The president-elect of Guatemala, Bernardo Arévalo, on Wednesday invited various political actors in the country to find a way out of the institutional crisis that the Central American country is going through.

“In the following days we will meet with sectors to advance and maintain the unity of Guatemalans and avoid the escalation of violence,” said Arevalo in a press conference with Vice President-elect Karin Herrera.

Bernardo Arévalo condemned that the Constitutional Court (CC) ordered the use of force against demonstrators who were peacefully protesting at the headquarters of the Public Prosecutor’s Office (MP) in the country’s capital.

The president-elect rejected the violent acts and warned that the CC’s measure against the demonstrators will only increase the conflict.

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During the press conference, Arevalo asked the Human Rights Ombudsman and the Ministry of the Interior (Mingob) to ensure the physical integrity of the demonstrators.

Arévalo assured that the CC “must take into account democratic decisions to make decisions”.

While Bernardo Arévalo gave the conference to journalists, authorities and indigenous leaders of Guatemala met with the head of the Human Rights Ombudsman’s Office (PDH).

In that meeting they also criticized the decision of the CC to order the forced eviction of the demonstrators from the MP headquarters.

The indigenous authorities agreed with the president elect in warning that the CC’s measure could worsen the crisis in the country, because the only thing they have requested is the resignation of officials who threaten the country’s democracy.

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On Wednesday, the CC ordered the Ministry of the Interior and the National Civil Police (PNC) to remove the demonstrators within six hours and allow full access to the headquarters of the Public Prosecutor’s Office.

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“The National Government has decided to extend the validity of the safe-conduct pass for an additional seventy-two (72) hours, until the end of Thursday, April 3, 2025,” the Panamanian Foreign Ministry stated in a communiqué. The original permit was set to expire Monday at midnight (05:00 GMT on Tuesday).

The Foreign Ministry explained that regarding the ‘humanitarian asylum’ granted to Martinelli last Thursday, which was set to expire Monday at midnight, the Nicaraguan government requested clarifications about an apparent Interpol alert, which had already been dismissed as inadmissible.

Additionally, the Panamanian Supreme Court of Justice, as the highest authority of the Judicial Branch, stated on Monday that it had “no objections” to granting asylum and a safe-conduct to Martinelli, as it falls under the jurisdiction of the Executive Branch.

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“I gave her a list of things that President Trump would love to see. And it was exceptional. It was supposed to be a half-hour meeting, but we talked for nearly two hours. It was very productive,” Noem said in an interview with Fox News.

The Homeland Security Secretary requested that Sheinbaum, who has already deployed 10,000 National Guard troopsalong Mexico’s northern border with the U.S., also secure Mexico’s southern border with Guatemala.

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“The National Police clarifies that there is currently an active process for an Interpol alert, requested by Judge Baloisa Marquínez, against former President Ricardo Martinelli. This request must be analyzed by Interpol’s General Secretariat (headquartered in France) for approval or rejection. If approved, it will be notified to member countries,” the police stated in a press release sent to EFE.

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The announcement came hours after National Police Director Jaime Fernández had told the press that an “Interpol alert” for Martinelli had been received on Friday.