US sanctions Giammattei for corruption three days after he steps down as president of Guatemala

The United States Department of State this Wednesday sanctioned former President Alejandro Giammattei and banned him from entering the country for “his involvement in significant acts of corruption.” According to Matthew Miller, a spokesman for that office, in a statement, they have “credible information” indicating that the former president “accepted bribes in exchange for the performance of his public duties during his tenure.”

The announcement comes just three days after Giamattei stepped down in favor of Bernardo Arevalo, the winner of the August election, after a complicated transition phase in which the new president has condemned actions against him from other branches of state. Investment The United States, which has followed the crisis very closely, has also taken a very active role in denouncing those who perpetuate corruption in the Central American country, which has seen, in recent years, the rise of authoritarianism and the erosion of its institutions.

“Over the past three years, we have taken steps to impose visa bans or sanctions on nearly 400 individuals, including public officials, private sector representatives and their families, for engaging in corrupt activities or undermining democracy or the rule of law in Guatemala.” Miller said in a statement. “Corruption undermines the rule of law and democratic institutions, allows impunity, fuels irregular migration, hinders economic prosperity and reduces the ability of governments to respond effectively to the needs of their people,” it added.

The ban on entry into the country, which Washington imposed under the so-called Magnitsky law that punishes corrupt people and human rights violators, also affects Giammattei’s children: Ana Marcella Dinorah, Alejandro Eduardo and Stefano Giammattei Caceres. Just this week, Mike Lee, a Republican senator, claimed that immigration authorities at the Miami airport stopped one of them from entering the country and returned him to Guatemala even though he had a visa to enter the United States.

CC calls for repeat election of Congressional Board of Directors

On the other hand, the Constitutional Court (CC) on Wednesday accepted an interim appeal filed by the opposition of the new government and ordered a repeat of the election of the Congress Board of Directors. On Sunday, despite having a third power in Congress, the presidency fell to the deputy of the ruling Semilla movement, Samuel Perez.

The election of the presidency of that chamber followed a long and sudden day, in which there was great tension between the deputies, which lasted for 12 hours until they elected Pérez as president, imposing the presidency on Arevalo. According to the CC, its decision does not affect the appointment of the president and his vice president.

The Supreme Guatemalan Court thus upheld an appeal brought by Sandra Jowell, a representative of the conservative Bahadur party, who was running for the presidency of the Congress and lost to Pérez. The former chancellor also alleged that some of the deputies on Semilla’s board of directors—his party—have been legally suspended and, therefore, cannot be part of the presidency or the commission.

Semilla’s suspension as a party responds to an order by criminal judge Freddy Orellana to investigate alleged “inconsistencies in the formation process” of the political group five years ago. Orellana has been sanctioned by the United States for corruption and is one of those who have blocked Arevalo and his party’s rise to the presidency, from the public ministry.