Demonstrators rally in Guatemala to defend presidential election results

President-elect Bernardo Arevalo has called on voters to meet him in Guatemala City as he faces threats to his victory.



A protester calls for an end to corruption on Monday in a sea of blue and white Guatemalan flags [Moises Castillo/AP Photo]



19 Sep 2023

Thousands of protesters have flooded the streets of Guatemala, answering a call issued by President-elect Bernardo Arevalo to defend the integrity of the country’s recent elections.

Last Friday, Arevalo took to social media to rally his supporters, asking them to join him in Guatemala City on Monday as he filed a legal challenge against those he considers “coup-mongers”.

“The time has come for all of us together, as one nation, to step forward, raise our voices and put a stop to that corrupt and coup-mongering minority that tries to deny the people of Guatemala the right to live in democracy,” Arevalo wrote. He also pledged to take his complaint to Guatemala’s Supreme Court of Justice: “We’ll see you in court!”

Ever since he emerged as one of two finalists in the June 25 presidential election, Arevalo — a dark-horse candidate who campaigned on combatting corruption — has seen his presidential ambitions beset by challenges from the political establishment. He has continued to be a target even after winning the August 20 run-off in a landslide.

More:
https://www.aljazeera.com/gallery/2023/9/19/demonstrators-rally-in-guatemala-to-defend-presidential-election-results