Guatemala's president-elect faces legal challenges that seek to weaken him. Here's what's happening

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Guatemala's Aug. 20 presidential election has been bogged down in court and legal challenges despite the fact the results were clear: Progressive candidate Bernardo Arévalo won about 61% of the vote to conservative Sandra Torres' 39%.

But federal prosecutors are seeking to suspend his party, throwing into doubt whether he will have any support in congress. And Torres

The next elected president, Jimmy Morales — and much of Guatemala's political elite — decided things had gone too far. Morales kicked out CICIG in 2019.Under current President Alejandro Giammattei and the attorney general he appointed, Consuelo Porras, the government has targeted criminal investigations not against corruption but against those who investigated and punished it.

Prosecutors claim they found evidence that some of the signatures gathered to register Arévalo's Seed Movement party were illegal. So Porras' office has requested the suspension of his political party — even though the law clearly says that can't be done during a campaign.The term ‘lawfare’ is understood as the use of multiple prosecutions and lawsuits to intimidate, silence or discredit dissidents or opponents.

The office also claims some of the people collecting signatures were paid to do so — something that's legal and commonplace in the United States, for example. Arévalo’s supporters say that's a small-potatoes argument for overturning millions of votes.Giammattei, who has sought to portray himself as above the fray of his attorney general's raids and prosecutions, has said he is willing to meet with Arévalo and fulfill the transfer of power to him Jan. 14.

 

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Guatemala progressive is confirmed as presidential winner but his party is suspendedArévalo has faced a slew of legal challenges and allegations of irregularities since his unexpected victory over a candidate favored by the country’s conservative elite.
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