Central America
Bernardo Arévalo calls for dialogue on crisis in Guatemala
October 19 |
The president-elect of Guatemala, Bernardo Arévalo, on Wednesday invited various political actors in the country to find a way out of the institutional crisis that the Central American country is going through.
“In the following days we will meet with sectors to advance and maintain the unity of Guatemalans and avoid the escalation of violence,” said Arevalo in a press conference with Vice President-elect Karin Herrera.
Bernardo Arévalo condemned that the Constitutional Court (CC) ordered the use of force against demonstrators who were peacefully protesting at the headquarters of the Public Prosecutor’s Office (MP) in the country’s capital.
The president-elect rejected the violent acts and warned that the CC’s measure against the demonstrators will only increase the conflict.
During the press conference, Arevalo asked the Human Rights Ombudsman and the Ministry of the Interior (Mingob) to ensure the physical integrity of the demonstrators.
Arévalo assured that the CC “must take into account democratic decisions to make decisions”.
While Bernardo Arévalo gave the conference to journalists, authorities and indigenous leaders of Guatemala met with the head of the Human Rights Ombudsman’s Office (PDH).
In that meeting they also criticized the decision of the CC to order the forced eviction of the demonstrators from the MP headquarters.
The indigenous authorities agreed with the president elect in warning that the CC’s measure could worsen the crisis in the country, because the only thing they have requested is the resignation of officials who threaten the country’s democracy.
On Wednesday, the CC ordered the Ministry of the Interior and the National Civil Police (PNC) to remove the demonstrators within six hours and allow full access to the headquarters of the Public Prosecutor’s Office.
Central America
Guatemala’s President to Hold Private Interviews for Attorney General Candidates
Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo de León announced that he will privately interview the six candidates for attorney general this week, breaking with the public format used by former President Alejandro Giammattei.
Speaking during a press conference on Monday, Arévalo said the interviews would not be open to the public because he intends to question candidates about their plans to recover the Attorney General’s Office from what he described as “political-criminal networks.”
Under Guatemalan law, the president is responsible for appointing the country’s attorney general.
The position has been held since 2018 by Consuelo Porras, whose term is set to expire on May 16 after two consecutive terms marked by local and international allegations of corruption.
Arévalo is expected to select the new attorney general later this week from a shortlist recently submitted by a nomination commission.
The Guatemalan president has repeatedly criticized the Public Prosecutor’s Office, claiming it has been compromised by corrupt political interests.
Central America
Guatemala Court Voids List of Candidates for Top Prosecutor Position
Constitutional Court of Guatemala on Thursday annulled the shortlist of six candidates for attorney general and head of the Public Prosecutor’s Office, ordering authorities to repeat the evaluation phase of the selection process.
The ruling came in response to a legal appeal filed by Raúl Amílcar Falla Ovalle, who challenged the way professional experience had been assessed for some applicants, particularly those with careers in the judiciary.
As a result of the decision, the selection process has been suspended, and the Postulation Commission must return to the stage in which the original 48 applicants were evaluated.
According to the ruling, the commission must reapply the grading criteria without automatically counting years served as judges as equivalent to the professional experience required for the position.
“The Postulation Commission for the election of the Attorney General and Head of the Public Prosecutor’s Office is ordered to reassess the applicants by strictly applying the approved grading table,” the resolution states.
The Constitutional Court also stressed that the process must guarantee merit, competence, and suitability, while ensuring greater transparency in the assignment of scores.
Central America
U.S. extradites Iranian man over alleged sanctions evasion scheme
The United States has extradited from Panama an Iranian national accused of evading economic sanctions against Iran by illegally exporting U.S. technology. He is scheduled to appear this Monday before a court in Seattle.
Reza Dindar, 44, was extradited on April 17 after being detained in Panama since July 2025 on charges related to export control violations between 2011 and 2012, allegedly carried out through companies based in China.
The defendant appeared before a U.S. district court in Seattle, where he faces charges of violating sanctions imposed by the United States on Iran in 1995 during the administration of Bill Clinton. These sanctions prohibit the unauthorized export, re-export, or supply—directly or indirectly—of U.S. goods, technology, or services to Iran or its government.
According to the indictment, between 2010 and 2014, Dindar led the company New Port Sourcing Solutions in Xi’an, China, which allegedly concealed the procurement of U.S. products for shipment to clients in Iran.
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