2024-01-15 07:20:00
(CNN Spanish) — Bernardo Arévalo was sworn in as president of Guatemala in the early hours of Monday morning, following his inauguration was delayed more than nine hours while the opposition-controlled Congress debated the admission of incoming legislators, who had to be sworn in before President.
The delay ended following the new lawmakers were finally sworn in and elected a congressional board to formally invest the president.
The legislature also revoked a decision of the previous Congress that had designated members of Arévalo’s Semilla party as independent, a move that prevented them from serving on the Congressional board of directors and weakened Arévalo’s power.
Arévalo will be president of Guatemala for the next four years.
In his investiture speech, Arévalo said that today is a “transcendental” day and that his inauguration is a “significant milestone thanks to the democratic exercise.”
“It fills me with a deep honor to assume this high responsibility, showing that our democracy has the necessary strength to resist. And that through unity and trust we can transform the political landscape in Guatemala,” said the president.
The president said that what is happening in Guatemala, as in other parts of the world, is the fight once morest authoritarianism, and that his country is fighting with “conviction and resilience.”
“This is the fight that we are facing in Guatemala and in other parts of Central America and in the world. Battles are being fought once morest new and old forms of authoritarianism that limit the aspirations of the people and betray their sovereignty. I am proud, I am proud to affirm that the people of Guatemala are offering the world community an unexpected example of democratic conviction and resilience,” said the president in Guatemala City.
The delay was so long that several world leaders who had traveled to Guatemala for the inauguration might not wait any longer and returned to their countries to attend to other commitments. Among them were the presidents of Chile and Paraguay.
Given this situation, the presidents, chancellors and high-level officials attending the inauguration issued a joint statement in which they called on Congress to comply with the law and proceed with Arévalo’s swearing-in. The statement, supported by the European Union, was read by Luis Almagro, secretary general of the Organization of American States (OAS).
During the night Arévalo published a message on X (formerly Twitter) in which he indicated that he was heading to the place where the solemn session will continue.
“At this moment I am on my way to the Miguel Ángel Asturias Cultural Center where the Congress of the Republic will continue with the solemn session,” he stated.
At this moment I am on my way to the Miguel Ángel Asturias Cultural Center where the Congress of the Republic will continue with its solemn session.
And then… see you in the square.
— Bernardo Arévalo (@BArevalodeLeon) January 15, 2024
The president of Paraguay, Santiago Peña, left Guatemala, but showed his support for Arévalo in X. “I appreciate the hospitality of the people of Guatemala and the warm attention during our stay,” he said in the message. “Unfortunately, for previously established agenda reasons, I will not be able to remain until Bernardo Arévalo takes office as President of this brother country, but we will continue to support and ensure respect for the popular will,” he added.
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