Attempted Coup in Guatemala
Guatmala, mired in corruption for many years, elected a new president last year who ran on an anti-corruption patform, Bernardo Arévalo. As in many coutnries, his election was a two step process. he took second place in the first round of elections and then won by sixty percent in the second election. He is a social democrat and represents the reform group Movemiento Semilla (Seed Movement). After the election the chief prosecutor in Guatemala, Consuelo Porres, went to court to nullify the election, claiming fraud. That claim eventually failed in Guatemalaś high court and Congress was set to swear in the new president last Sunday. The opposition in Congrss delayed his inauguration for nine hours while the public protested outside in support of the new president. Finally the opposition was overcome and Bernardo Arévalo was sworn in as the new president of Guatemala.
The United States has plcaed sanctions on the former president Giammattei and his sons as will as the prosecutor and judges who attempted to nullify the election. These sanctions were protested by Republicans, including Senator Mke Lee. The European Union and other Latin American countries have given support to the new president.