Bernardo Arévalo, sworn in as president of Guatemala after the ceremony was delayed for several hours

The newly inaugurated president promises a new democratic order based on "social justice" and the economic development of the country

Bernardo Arévalo has been inaugurated president of Guatemala for the period 2024-2028 in a ceremony that began at the stroke of midnight at the Miguel Ángel Asturias Cultural Center, after several hours of delay in the inauguration due to the constitution of Congress, which has generated a tense day in the country.

"It fills me with a deep honor to assume this high responsibility, showing that our democracy has the necessary strength to resist and that through unity and trust we can transform the political landscape in Guatemala. This moment not only represents a personal achievement but a firm step towards a future where citizen participation and positive change prevail," Arévalo declared during his speech before the Chamber.

"This honor is the fruit of the hopeful and sincere trust that millions of Guatemalan men and women have placed in our collective project. Furthermore, it reflects the faith that the vast majority of our country maintains in our ability as a people to overcome challenges and move towards a more promising future. It is a commitment that we assume with humility and determination," added the newly inaugurated president.

Arévalo has insisted on building a new democratic order based on "social justice", "common welfare" and "prosperity" in the face of the corruption of Guatemala's institutions, and has promised to "assume his historical responsibility" to develop the infrastructure of the country.

"Our Government proposal is summarized in a simple formula: there can be no democracy without social justice, and social justice cannot prevail without democracy. Despite its simplicity, this formula has been conspicuously absent in government administration throughout much of our history. We are not making a promise based on theoretical statements, but on concrete achievements, made possible by a State that will finally assume its historical responsibility to guide development," he stated.

Likewise, he thanked the international community for its defense of democracy in the country, and that numerous foreign ministers, presidents and heads of state have traveled to Guatemala to attend the investiture session in a show of support for the results. of the ballot boxes.

"The support of the democratic nations of the world has been crucial, allowing us to be here today and allowing me to ratify our first great commitment. Never again will authoritarianism. We will never allow violence to be used as a means to promote political agendas or preserve privileges. We will not tolerate intolerance," Arévalo expressed.

The president of the Chamber, Samuel Pérez, also from the social democratic Semilla Movement, announced the investiture of the vice president, Karin Herrera, amidst cheers in the room, which was attended by delegations from dozens of countries. The authorities have given them the command insignia, which had been previously delivered by the outgoing president, Alejandro Giammattei.

DELAY IN THE INVESTITURE CEREMONY

"Given the risk of arriving at midnight without starting the formal acts, at this moment I delivered the symbols of the Presidency to the Congress of Guatemala so that I can be given the position separately as established by the Constitution of the Republic," he said. said the conservative, as he shared through his profile on the social network X, formerly known as Twitter.

The delay in the inauguration of Arévalo and Herrera has caused concern to the international community, so that foreign ministers of Latin America and the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Policy, Josep Borrell, have signed a joint declaration in which They asked to "hand over power" to the president.

This date has been in the spotlight of international organizations that have denounced persecution, even speaking of a "technical coup d'état" in the face of judicial pressure exerted by a highly questioned Prosecutor's Office against the unexpected trial of the leftist in the August elections, which he broke with decades of conservative governments.

The Semilla Movement focused its campaign on messages against corruption and the recovery of democracy, in a country where for years the traditional party system co-opted institutions to benefit the particular interests of politicians, businessmen, the military and even organized crime. .