Despite the prevailing concern caused by the maneuvers to remove the Semilla party, winner of the elections, from the political game, both figures and their teams will seek to define the schedule and priority issues.

Foreign Minister Mario Búcaro initially reported that the transition process would begin on September 11th. However, after the confirmation of the voting results by the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE), Giammattei announced his invitation to Arévalo and the vice president-elect, Karin Herrera, for this Monday at 2:00 p.m. local time.

This will allow the new authorities to undertake the tasks that lie ahead from day one and avoid the stagnation of the public administration for the benefit of Guatemalans, Giammattei stressed. “The doors are open to an orderly, transparent and above all efficient government transition,” he asserted, just as national and international organizations denounced the purpose of carrying out a technical coup against democracy.

Shortly before the TSE’s announcement last Monday, the Public Ministry’s citizen registrar, Ramiro Muñoz, complied with a judge’s order and resolved to cancel the legal status of the Semilla party, described as progressive.

The seriousness of the events led Arévalo himself to denounce an ongoing coup by a group of politicians and officials, who refused to accept the election results. “These actions constitute a coup that is promoted from the institutions that should guarantee justice in our country,” he emphasized.

Arévalo asked the peoples of Guatemala, civil society, businessmen and workers, the popular movement, churches and indigenous authorities, and students, to join in defense of unrestricted respect for the popular will.

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