The TSE of Guatemala makes official the electoral results after the suspension of the Seed Movement

Arévalo: "From this moment on, nothing can legally prevent us from taking possession"

The Supreme Electoral Tribunal of Guatemala has announced on Monday the officialization of the results of the second electoral round for the Guatemalan Presidency, in which Bernardo Arévalo, candidate of the Seed Movement, won by obtaining 60.9 percent of the votes against her rival, Sandra Torres, from the National Unity of Hope (UNE), who received 39.9 percent.

Arévalo stressed that this ratification of his victory, which he considers "irrefutable", "confirms the forceful and sovereign decision of the people of Guatemala", which "has entrusted him with the leadership of the country": "From this moment on, nothing can legally prevent us from taking office on January 14, 2024, as is constitutionally established," he asserted.

"This is a historic moment for a people who turned to the polls and then turned to the streets and squares of the entire country to celebrate the beginning of a new democratic spring," said the president-elect of the Central American country.

The president of the electoral authority, Irma Palencia, confirmed the results at a press conference that took place minutes after the Citizens Registry of the (TSE) provisionally suspended the legal personality of the Seed Movement, assuring that the magistrates were unaware of the decision.

"Elections are essential to strengthen values, guarantee the transition to democracy, they are essential elements. The results of the elections are determined at the polls, therefore, it is important to respect the results and the decision of Guatemalans," he declared. Palencia.

The person in charge of the Citizens' Registry, Ramiro Muñoz, has agreed to suspend the political party considering that the amparo granted by the Constitutional Court is no longer valid "derived from the fact that, to date, the second electoral round has already been held and established the corresponding scrutinies".

Muñoz maintains that this measure "does not affect or suspend" the electoral results, according to the order, despite the fact that the decision was made minutes before the TSE made the results of the second round official.

The vice president-elect, Karin Herrera, has reacted to the suspension, indicating that "this resolution is null and void", for which reason this Tuesday she will present the corresponding appeal for annulment.

"Additionally, Semilla filed an amparo before the magistrates of the Second Chamber, requesting an end to the political persecution that Judge Fredy Orellana has illegally led together with the prosecutor Rafael Curruchiche," added Herrera, who has indicated that they have carried out "illegal actions that violate the guarantees of due process, violating the right to defense, hearing and effective judicial protection."

According to the Prosecutor's Office, the political party would have committed a crime of laundering money or other assets, since it paid around 175,000 Guatemalan quetzales (around 20,200 euros) for the signatures it needed to establish itself.

Since Semilla achieved surprising results -compared to what the polls predicted-- in the first round of elections, held on June 25, the Guatemalan Public Ministry has taken numerous actions to disable the results or outlaw political formation, actions which have been condemned by the international community.