The US on Monday announced visa restrictions on nearly 300 Guatemalan nationals, including more than 100 members of the Guatemalan Congress, for allegedly undermining democracy and the rule of law, particularly their alleged efforts to block the results of this June’s presidential election.
“The United States stands with those who seek to protect democracy and the rule of law in Guatemala and ensure that the will of the Guatemalan people is respected,” State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said in a statement.
The visa restrictions were taken under the Immigration and Nationality Act, according to Miller, who said the US would continue to take such action against any individuals who “undermine Guatemala’s democracy”.
“The United States strongly condemns the ongoing anti-democratic actions by Guatemala’s Public Ministry and other bad actors who are undermining the rule of law in Guatemala,” Miller said, citing the Ministry’s announcement of arrest warrants for election workers and party officials, its request to lift the immunity of President-elect Bernardo Arevalo, and its attempts to annul election results.
“These actions are clearly inconsistent with the Inter-American Democratic Charter,” he said.
“These brazen measures follow a long list of other anti-democratic actions, including: lifting the immunity of electoral judges, politically targeting members of the opposition, intimidating peaceful demonstrators, raiding warehouses containing election results, and opening ballot boxes.”
Last week, prosecutors threatened to annul the June election victory of Arevalo, who will take office on 14 January, citing “anomalies” in the vote.
Arevalo, who has vowed to fight corruption in the Central American country, has faced one hurdle after another in recent months in his efforts to take office.
