The president of Guatemala, Bernardo Arévalo de Leóncited this Wednesday the attorney general, Consuelo Porras Arguetaaccused of trying to prevent his inauguration, to appear before the Council of Ministers next Monday, after the official refused to meet with him that day.
“The law requires him to appear before the Council of Ministers, if he does not attend he would be committing a breach of duties.“Arévalo de León indicated in a press conference, after announcing his decision to summon the attorney general again.
Porras Argueta, who directs the Public ministry (Prosecutor’s Office) since 2018, refused to attend this Wednesday a meeting to which she was invited by Arévalo de León to submit a management report and also stated, through a video, that she will not resign from the position of attorney general.
Arévalo de León, in his first gubernatorial administration, asked the attorney general to appear at the presidential house with a report on his progress with the Public Ministry and later highlighted that the letter sent by Porras Argueta “does not answer the questions asked”.
During the press conference held this afternoon, Bernardo Arévalo de León recalled that the attorney general “is a person internationally sanctioned for his participation in acts of corruption”and added that under the administration of Consuelo Porras Arguetathe Prosecutor’s Office has incurred “the spurious use of political persecution”.
They demand resignation of attorney general
From last October to January 15, hundreds of indigenous leaders from Guatemala They held an interrupted sit-in in front of the Prosecutor’s Office headquarters and more than 10 massive marches to demand the resignation of Porras Argueta, for his attempts to annul the electoral victory of Arévalo de León.
The attorney general and a group of officials, sanctioned for USAled various judicial actions to try to criminally prosecute Arévalo de León and even annul the results of the elections held on August 20 to prevent him from taking power for the period 2024-2028.
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Prior to these attacks, Porras Argueta was sanctioned by the United States, accused of “hinder the fight against corruption” in the Central American country and subsequently persecute journalists, prosecutors, judges and critical activists.
Porras Argueta can only be removed from her position as attorney general if there is previously a conviction against her, the Constitutional CourtGuatemala’s highest court, by rejecting requests that sought to facilitate the dismissal of the official.
Arévalo de León won the elections in August 2023, surpassing, in a surprising way, the traditional and favorite candidates and according to experts, during his first year of Government he will have to look for governability conditions to fulfill his promises to fight against corruption that They brought him to power.
