Members of the United States Senate Foreign Relations Committee introduced a resolution calling for a peaceful transition of power to President-elect Bernardo Arevalo.
With this, the Government of Guatemala is urged to prioritize and act proactively to guarantee a peaceful transfer of power and proceed with the inauguration of the President-elect on January 14.
The senators introducing the resolution are led by Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Ben Cardin as well as Dick Durbin, Tim Kaine, Jeff Merkle, Lafonza Butler and Peter Welch.
“The people of Guatemala cast their vote in a free and fair presidential election. They deserve to have their voices heard and respected. The Guatemalan government must respect the will of the people and allow a peaceful transition of power to the president-elect Arevalo,” Cardin points out.
Prevent restrictions
The proposed resolution calls, among other things, for the State Department, the Treasury Department, and the Agency for International Development (USAID) to prepare for the possibility that the mandate change may not occur peacefully.
They call for a reevaluation of all elements of US bilateral foreign aid and cooperation with the government of Guatemala.
With this, they also point out that all diplomatic and economic tools must be evaluated, including the use of sanctions against Guatemalan public officials, private sector actors and others who have supported or attempted to stop the transition. Power
Asks to pay fine
The resolution also calls on the government to commute the sentences of journalist Jose Ruben Zamora and former prosecutor Virginia Lepara. “And end the intimidation and threats against all actors working to reduce corruption in Guatemala”.
