The European Union is deeply disturbed by the intensified attempts to undermine Guatemala’s election results through selective and arbitrary legal and procedural actions, such as the recent raids and the detention orders for members of the political party Movimiento Semilla. These actions not only risk jeopardising an orderly transition of power to the new government but also Guatemala’s overall democratic system and stability.

The EU Election Observation Mission highlighted in its final, recently presented report that there was no fraud in the elections, and underlined the extensive judicialisation and abuse of legal proceedings by the office of the Chief Prosecutor (Ministerio Público). The EU is deeply concerned by the continued misuse of these means to intimidate and criminalise workers of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE), top officials and magistrates, members of the departmental (JED) and municipal (JEM) electoral boards, polling stations (JRV) and data-entry clerks.

We therefore reiterate our call on all Guatemalan institutions and officials to fully respect the integrity of the election results that the TSE certified, and to halt any action that could endanger a peaceful transition process, acting in line with their responsibilities as enshrined in the Guatemalan Constitution, respecting the fundamental principle of the separation of powers and the will of the Guatemalan people as expressed in the ballots.

Further actions to overturn the legitimate outcome of the elections and the continued instrumentalisation of judicial and prosecutorial institutions to undermine democracy and the rule of law would inevitably have repercussions on the relations between the European Union and the authorities that are allowing this to happen.”