Guatemala’s president calls on Attorney General Consuelo Porras to hold her accountable

President of Guatemala, Bernardo Arevalo de LeonThis Friday invited the Attorney General, Consuelo Porras Arguetato attend his office next Wednesday and present a detailed report on various issues during his administration at the head of the Public Ministry (Prosecutor’s Office).

Arevalo de León hopes that Porras Argueta will visit his office at the National Palace of Culture next. 24 January and accounts on its management at the head of the prosecutor’s office.

On September 1, Arevalo de León accused Porras Argueta of directing coup attempt” to cut off his presidential inauguration and A week ago he assured the local media that he would seek his resignation.

Porras Argueta can only be removed from his position as attorney general if he is previously convicted, the constitutional court, Guatemala’s highest court, said on 20 December. Reject requests intended to facilitate the officer’s dismissal.

According to the letter sent by the President this Friday, the Attorney General must report on his criteriaand criminal prosecution in cases of freedom of expressionAlso research progress due to discrepancies in procurement of vaccine for Covid-19.

Arévalo de Leon also asked the prosecutor’s office to report on progress in criminal proceedings linked to the decisions. Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACHR).

Porras Argueta, 70, who has been sanctioned by the United States since 2021, is accused of “Weaken the fight against corruption” The Central American country has been involved in a series of attempts to derail Arévalo de Leon’s election victory since July 2023 and prevent his presidential inauguration.

This includes efforts to abolish political parties Seed movementArevalo, as well as the arrest warrants against the judges of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal and seized boxes containing the documents of the elections held on June 25 and August 20.

During the past three months, hundreds of indigenous people from across Guatemala staged disruptive sit-ins in front of the prosecutor’s office in Guatemala City, demanding the resignation of Porras Argueta and three other officials. Try to effect the “popular will as expressed in elections”.

Arevalo de León assumed the presidency on January 14 with the challenge of creating conditions for governability to fulfill his campaign promise of a frontal attack on state corruption that has bedeviled the Central American country’s democracy in recent years.

(with information from EFE)