Eduardo González
The Socialist Parliamentary Group has urged the Government of Pedro Sánchez to promote the strengthening of democratic institutions and civil society and respect for human rights in Guatemala through the Country Partnership Framework.
In a non-law Proposal presented on January 18 for debate in the Foreign Affairs Commission, the PSOE recalls the recent actions of the Public Ministry and other Guatemalan authorities to prevent the inauguration of the new president, Bernardo Arévalo, to despite the fact that his electoral victory on August 20 at the head of the Semilla Movement was “internationally endorsed” by the EU Electoral Observation Mission and by other international and national observers and “certified by the Supreme Electoral Tribunal, highest electoral authority in the country.”
These actions, according to the PSOE, “have generated significant concern in the international community,” which has highlighted “the seriousness of the situation and the importance of preserving democratic principles and the rule of law in Guatemala.” The maneuvers to prevent Arévalo from coming to power continued until the day of the inauguration, in mid-January, when the attempts of several parliamentarians to paralyze the process forced King Felipe VI and other leaders to return to their countries. without being able to attend the event.
For all these reasons, the Socialist Parliamentary Group urges the Government to “provide protection to the democratic process in Guatemala”, to support “all the necessary measures to guarantee a peaceful presidential transition process that ensures the investiture of the legitimately elected authorities” and to “express their concern for the physical and legal security of human rights defenders.”
Furthermore, the motion urges the Executive to “reinforce Spanish cooperation, through the Country Partnership Framework, promoting the strengthening of democratic institutions and civil society, as well as the realization of human rights through a life free of violence”, as well as to continue promoting the activity carried out on the ground by the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID).
In December, the Spanish Government rejected the actions of the Guatemalan Public Ministry against Arévalo, considering that they “attack democracy” and represent “a serious violation of the will of the Guatemalan people freely expressed at the polls,” and demanded that “all Guatemalan institutions respect the results of the polls and guarantee the peaceful transfer of power.” On the eve of the investiture, Felipe VI conveyed to Arévalo Spain’s commitment to maintaining and strengthening its cooperation with Guatemala.
