DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Massive genocide trial reopens old wounds in Guatemala, 40 years after indigenous slaughter
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-13 | by ( Tara John | Ivonne Valdés | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

In 2018, a Guatemalan court ruled that the army committed acts of genocide, but no one was convicted. Lucas García, 91, was meant to face trial this year with former military intelligence chief Manuel Callejas y Callejas. Robert Nickelsberg/Archive Photos/Getty ImagesBurt said this “expression of racism is extremely profound,” and its knock-on effects are evident in Guatemala today. Survivors from the civil war gather outside the Supreme Court, prior to a hearing in the Ixil Genocide trial, in Guatemala City, Guatemala March 25, 2024. When the trial was due to start at the end of March, Lucas García’s lawyers announced their resignation.

Persons: CNN — Juan Brito López, Brito López, Manuel Benedicto Lucas García, Lucas García, Benedicto Lucas Garcia, Johan Ordonez, Lucas García’s, AJR, Fernando Romeo Lucas García, “ Lucas García, Manuel Callejas y, Callejas, Jesús Silvio, Romeo Lucas García’s, ” Jo, Marie Burt, ”, Robert Nickelsberg, Burt, Efrain Rios Montt, Tiziano Breda, Claudia Paz y Paz, CICIG, ” Silvio, ” Will Freeman, Cristina Chiquin, Bernardo Arévalo, Public Ministry –, Consuelo Porras , hasn’t, Michelle Liang, “, Brito López’s, Catarina Chel, tormenter, Silvia, ” CNN’s Tara John, Ivonne Valdés Organizations: CNN, United, Getty, Association for Justice, Reconciliation, Human, Washington Office, UN, Guatemalan Army, “, Central American, International, Commission, Council, Foreign Relations, Reuters CNN, Public Ministry, US, Network, Solidarity, ” CNN Locations: Pexla, Guatemala City, United Nations, Guatemalan, Guatemala, America, ”, Santa Cruz de Quiche, of Guatemala, New York, Mexico City

☆ The true face of immigration
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-28 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Baltimore was sleeping when the fully laden cargo ship, adrift and without power, slammed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge, bringing it down in seconds. All of those missing were immigrants, outsiders who had come to the US from Mexico and Central America for a better life. Miguel Luna, an immigrant from El Salvador, has been identified as one of the six people who was on the Francis Scott Key Bridge when it collapsed Tuesday. And when the Francis Scott Key Bridge rises again, it’s a good bet it will be immigrants who are building it. CORRECTION: This story has been updated to reflect that the missing immigrants in the Baltimore Key Bridge collapse were from Central America.

Persons: Francis Scott Key, Donald Trump, Biden, ” Trump, Trump’s, Miguel Luna, Maynor Yassir Suazo Sandoval, Yassir Suazo Sandoval, Martin Suazo, it’s Organizations: CNN, Central America, “, CNN One Locations: Mexico, Central, United States, Manchester , New Hampshire, El Salvador, Maryland, Honduran, Baltimore, Central America

☆ ‘They Never Came Home’: Bridge Collapse Casts a Pall Over Baltimore’s Hispanic Community
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-28 | by ( Eduardo Medina | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

Jose López was one of the first in his family to leave Guatemala for a new life in the United States. So in the early 2000s he found his way to Baltimore, a city where strivers have long found a home and where Mr. López made one for himself and his family. The couple had two children, and Jose López often picked them up from school. About two years ago, he took a new job, working late nights for a contractor repairing roads on Maryland bridges. He didn’t mind the arduous hours because he viewed his purpose in life as providing food and shelter for his family, Mr. López’s older brother said.

Persons: Jose López, López, Jovani Locations: Guatemala, United States, Baltimore, Maryland

☆ Baltimore key bridge collapse: Recovery efforts continue for 6 presumed dead after Baltimore bridge collapse as investigation gets underway
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-26 | by ( Elizabeth Wolfe | Yahya Abou-Ghazala | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Recovery efforts are now underway for the missing people, who are presumed dead. People from El Salvador, Guatemala and Mexico among the missing: Miguel Luna, an immigrant from El Salvador, has been identified as one of the missing, according to the nonprofit Miguel Luna, an immigrant from El Salvador, has been identified as one of the missing, according to the nonprofit CASA . Ship blacked out before crash: Just minutes before impact, there was a “total blackout” of engine and electrical power on the ship, according to Clay Diamond, executive director of the American Pilots Association. Eight construction workers were believed to be mending potholes on the bridge when it fell, according to officials. A specialized team will also determine who was controlling the vessel and who was on the ship’s bridge at the time of the crash, she said.

Persons: Francis Scott Key, James Wallace, Wes Moore, “ We’re, Jennifer Homendy, Richard Worley, Miguel Luna, Petén, Clay Diamond, Diamond, “ It’s, ”, Pete Buttigieg, Joe Biden, US Sen, Chris Van Hollen, Buttigieg, Luna, DALI, “, ” Moore, Dali, Tasos Katopodis, Moore, CNN’s Melissa Alonso, Flora Charner, Sarah Engel, Jack Forrest, Allison Gordon, Elise Hammond, Jennifer Henderson, Betsy Klein, Jamiel Lynch, Sean Lyngaas, Mary Kay Mallonee, Lauren Mascarenhas, Pete Muntean, Tori B, Powell, Rachel Ramirez, Amy Simonson, Aditi Sangal, Michael Williams Organizations: CNN, US Coast Guard, Baltimore City Fire, Divers, Maryland Gov, Guard, Transportation Safety, National Transportation Safety, Baltimore Police, CASA, The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mexican Embassy, American Pilots Association, Reconstruction, Vital, Transportation, El, Maritime, Port Authority of, Infrastructure Security Agency, Coast Guard, for Disease Control, Gov, Association of Maryland Pilots, ”, NTSB Locations: Baltimore, ”, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, San Luis, Camotán, Washington, US, Patapsco, El Salvadoran, Maryland, Port Authority of Singapore

☆ Guatemala to Maintain Taiwan Ties Despite Seeking Greater China Trade
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Sofia MenchuGUATEMALA CITY (Reuters) - Guatemala has no intention of breaking diplomatic relations with Taiwan despite seeking closer economic links with China, President Bernardo Arevalo said on Thursday, pledging to boost ties with both players in parallel. Guatemala is one of only a handful of nations that still maintains formal ties with Taiwan. Next-door Honduras last year switched allegiances to China, which claims Taiwan as its own, after seeking almost $2.5 billion in aid from Beijing. Publicly reaffirming the country's Taiwan ties for the first time since taking office, Arevalo said his administration will not change course. "Diplomatic relations are with Taiwan and with the People's Republic of China there are trade relations that will continue to develop."

Persons: Bernardo Arevalo, Arevalo, Carlos Ramiro Martinez, Drazen Jorgic, Josie Kao Organizations: Sofia Menchu, Sofia Menchu GUATEMALA CITY, Taiwan, Reuters, Publicly Locations: Sofia, Sofia Menchu GUATEMALA, Guatemala, Taiwan, China, Honduras, Beijing, Reuters Guatemala, People's Republic of China, U.S, United States

COLUMBIA, South Carolina (AP) — Bidding to salvage a border deal in Congress that also would unlock money for Ukraine, President Joe Biden offered fresh assurances Saturday night that he would be willing to close the U.S.-Mexico border if lawmakers would only send him a bill to sign. Biden — also eager to disarm GOP criticism of his handling of migration at the border — said at a political event in South Carolina that he would shut down the border ’“right now” if Congress passed the proposed deal. “It’ll also give me as president, the emergency authority to shut down the border until it could get back under control. If that bill were the law today, I’d shut down the border right now and fix it quickly.”The deal being negotiated in Congress would require the U.S. to shutter the border if roughly 5,000 migrants cross illegally on any given day. Political Cartoons View All 253 ImagesIn a written statement on Friday evening, Biden said the deal would allow him “a new emergency authority” to close the border.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden —, “, Biden, “ It’ll, I’d, Donald Trump, He's, Trump’s admonitions, Deirdre Schifeling, ”, Mike Johnson, Guatemalans, ___ Long Organizations: COLUMBIA, Senate Democrats, Republicans, GOP, America, Biden, House, Democratic, “, American Civil Liberties Union, Border Patrol, Hondurans Locations: South Carolina, Ukraine, U.S, Mexico, Venezuela, Washington

WHO IS GUATEMALA'S ATTORNEY GENERAL? She first became attorney general in 2018 with the support of then-President Jimmy Morales, replacing Thelma Aldana. With a doctorate in law, Porras' reputation was hit by a plagiarism scandal during her first term as attorney general. During Giammattei’s time as president, Porras left many accusations against him uninvestigated, including a corruption scandal involving COVID-19 vaccines. Now, the attorney general can be removed only for a conviction for a malicious offense.

Persons: Bernardo Arévalo, Consuelo Porras, Arévalo, Porras, Luis Almagro, Jimmy Morales, Thelma Aldana, Alejandro Giammattei, Arévalo’s, —, Claudia Paz y, ” Paz y Paz, “, Paz y Paz, Juan Francisco Sandoval, Paz y, ”, Sandoval Organizations: GUATEMALA CITY, WHO, United, Organization of American, U.S, Party, Claudia Paz y Paz, Porras, Paz y Paz Locations: GUATEMALA, American, United States, Organization of American States, America, United Nations

GUATEMALA CITY (AP) — Guatemala's new president, Bernardo Arévalo, was left with huge challenges Monday after he was finally sworn into office, including his party's lack of recognition in a Congress where he would not have a majority anyway. “There cannot be democracy without social justice, and social justice cannot prevail without democracy,” Arévalo said in his first speech as president, referring to the young and Indigenous Guatemalans. It was an important gesture by Arévalo, who was criticized last week for including only one Indigenous person in his Cabinet. A progressive academic-turned-politician and son of a Guatemalan president credited with implementing key social reforms in the mid-20th century, Arévalo made confronting Guatemala’s entrenched corruption his main campaign pledge. Outgoing President Alejandro Giammattei, who was widely criticized for eroding the country’s democratic institutions, did not attend the inauguration.

Persons: —, Bernardo Arévalo, Arévalo, General Consuelo Porras, ” Arévalo, Porras, Guatemala’s, “, ”, Alejandro Giammattei, Arévalo's, Manuel Perez, ” Prosecutors, Washington, Antony Blinken Organizations: GUATEMALA CITY, Attorney, Lawmakers, Central, la Constitucion, Guatemalan, ”, Arévalo’s, Prosecutors, Seed, European Union, Organization of American, U.S Locations: GUATEMALA, Guatemala, Central American, U.S, America

GUATEMALA CITY (AP) — Bernardo Arévalo was sworn in early Monday as Guatemala’s new president. He’s considered a political moderate with a background in conflict resolution, skills that should serve him well in Guatemala’s current polarization. WHO IS GUATEMALA’S NEW PRESIDENT? Political Cartoons View All 253 ImagesArévalo is the 65-year-old son of former Guatemalan President Juan José Arévalo. The poorest are also the most vulnerable to the intensifying drought and flood cycles made worse by climate change.

Persons: — Bernardo Arévalo, He’s, Juan José Arévalo, Arévalo, Bernardo Arévalo, Jacobo Árbenz, hadn't, ”, General Consuelo Porras, —, Porras Organizations: GUATEMALA CITY, WHO, CIA, Seed Movement Locations: GUATEMALA, Congress, Uruguay, U.S, Guatemala, Israel, Netherlands, Spain, Geneva, Central America, United States

GUATEMALA CITY (AP) — Guatemalan President-elect Bernardo Arévalo is scheduled to be sworn into office Sunday afternoon. But just like almost every day since his resounding Aug. 20 election victory, the inauguration will be tinged with doubts and tensions. The still-serving Attorney General, Consuelo Porras, has tried every legal trick in the book to put him on trial or in jail before he takes office. And Arévalo’s Seed Movement party will not have a majority in Congress, and may not even have formal recognition there. Under Porras, the country’s prosecutors and judges who led that effort have become targets, forcing dozens to flee the country or be arrested.

Persons: Bernardo Arévalo, Consuelo Porras, —, Arévalo, Porras, Karin Herrera, Brian A, Nichols Organizations: GUATEMALA CITY, —, Central, la Constitucion, Prosecutors, Arévalo’s, Constitutional, European Union, Organization of American, United Locations: GUATEMALA, — Guatemalan, Central American, United States, U.S

☆ Guatemala's Arevalo Due to Assume Presidency With Difficult Path Ahead
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-14 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +4 min

The attorney general has tried to strip Arevalo and his Vice President-elect Karin Herrera of legal immunity, suspend his Semilla party and annul the election. "Problems are not over for Arevalo," said Roberto Alejos, former Guatemalan Congressional and political analyst. Giammattei's conservative Vamos party and UNE, the party of former first lady Sandra Torres who Arevalo defeated in the election hold a combined greater power. The government of Arevalo and Herrera will have to carefully balance demands by the United States to stem migration amid record-high remittances that keep the local economy afloat. After winning the presidency, Arevalo said he will expand relations with China, which could imply a change in policy for Guatemala's diplomatic ties with Taiwan, a move that could anger the United States.

Persons: Bernardo Arevalo, Alejandro Giammattei, Arevalo's, Arevalo, Karin Herrera, Roberto Alejos, Sandra Torres, Ana Maria Mendez, Consuelo, Porras's, TAIWAN Arevalo, Juan Jose Arevalo, Herrera, Sofia Menchu, Diego Ore, Cassandra Garrison, Diane Craft Organizations: Sofia Menchu, Sofia Menchu GUATEMALA CITY, Arevalo, Guatemalan Congressional, Washington Office, American Affairs, TAIWAN, Central, Reuters Locations: Sofia, Sofia Menchu GUATEMALA, Guatemalan, Guatemala, Central America, Arevalo, United States, CHINA, China, Taiwan, Guatemala City

☆ International backlash grows after move to strip Guatemalan president-elect's immunity
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-19 | by ( Brendan O'Boyle | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Guatemala's President-elect Bernardo Arevalo stands on the Square of Human Rights outside the Supreme Court, in Guatemala City, Guatemala November 16, 2023. REUTERS/Cristina Chiquin/file photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 18 (Reuters) - International rebuke swelled on Saturday over what observers say are efforts to use a politicized justice system to keep Guatemalan President-elect Bernardo Arevalo out of office. A prosecutor at Guatemala's attorney general's office on Thursday moved to strip Arevalo of his immunity from prosecution, accusing him and his running mate of complicity in the takeover of a university in the capital last year. In a statement on Saturday, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and its Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression, condemned the attorney general's office's "incessant improper actions and interference." Earlier Saturday, senior U.S. Department of State official Brian Nichols condemned the attorney general's office's "malign request" to strip Arevalo and his Vice President-elect Karin Herrera of immunity in a post on social media.

Persons: Bernardo Arevalo, Cristina Chiquin, Arevalo, general's office's, Brian Nichols, Karin Herrera, Herrera, Guatemalans, General Consuela Porras, Brendan O'Boyle, Chizu Organizations: Human, REUTERS, Guatemalan, Inter, American, Human Rights, U.S . Department of State, Democratic Initiative of Spain, Americas, Grupo IDEA, U.S, Movement, Thomson Locations: Guatemala City, Guatemala, Latin America, Spain

☆ Why Illegal Border Crossings Are at Sustained Highs
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-29 | by ( Ashley Wu | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +7 min

Why Illegal Border Crossings Are at Sustained HighsFor the second year in a row, the number of illegal crossings at the U.S.-Mexico border surpassed two million, according to government data released this month. The 2022 fiscal year set a record of 2.2 million illegal border crossings. Shifting U.S. policies, global migration patterns and changing migrant demographics all factor into the high levels of illegal border crossings of the past few years. Since then, the number of illegal border crossings has increased every month, and border patrol agents made nearly 220,000 apprehensions in September alone. They accounted for the third-most illegal border crossings in the past year, after Mexicans and Guatemalans.

Persons: Biden, New York —, Donald J, Trump, “, ”, Denise Gilman, Ms, Gilman Organizations: . Customs, Republicans, Government, University of Texas, Austin’s Immigration Clinic, Northern, Northern Triangle Locations: U.S, Mexico, Chicago, New York, Central America, United States, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, apprehensions, Guatemalans, Venezuela, Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua

Venezuelans were arrested 54,833 times by the Border Patrol after entering from Mexico in September, more than double from 22,090 arrests in August and well above the previous monthly high of 33,749 arrests in September 2022. Venezuela plunged into a political, economic and humanitarian crisis over the last decade, pushing more than 7 million people to leave. Political Cartoons View All 1211 ImagesThe U.S. “surged resources and personnel” to the border in September, said Troy Miller, acting commissioner of Customs and Border Protection. Mexicans were arrested 39,733 times crossing the border in September, well behind Venezuelans. Republicans seized on the latest numbers as its leading presidential candidates have tried to frame the border as a major issue in next year's elections.

Persons: Venezuelans, Biden, Nicolás, ”, Troy Miller, ” Miller, Alejandro, Mayorkas, Mark Green of Organizations: DIEGO, Border Patrol, U.S . Customs, Protection, Customs, Central Americans, Republicans, Homeland, House Homeland Security Locations: U.S, Mexico, Venezuela, America, United States, New York, Chicago, South America, Africa, Asia, Hondurans, Mark Green of Tennessee

☆ 'Shameful': OAS accuses Guatemala prosecutors of election interference
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( Sofia Menchu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/3] Demonstrators block an avenue as part of a national strike to demand the resignation of authorities from the attorney general's office, in Guatemala City, Guatemala October 10, 2023. Luis Almagro, the chief of the Washington-based OAS, called the ongoing investigation by the Guatemalan Attorney General's Office into the party of President-elect Bernardo Arevalo and the electoral authority an unprecedented attack on Guatemala's democracy. "The prosecutors' office has chosen to ignore numerous calls from the international community and its behavior violates democratic norms," Almagro said. Porras' office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Reporting by Sofia Menchu; Writing by Kylie Madry; Editing by David Alire Garcia and Gerry DoyleOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Josue, Luis Almagro, Bernardo Arevalo, Arevalo, General Consuelo Porras, Almagro, Porras, Alejandro Giammattei, Sofia Menchu, Kylie Madry, David Alire Garcia, Gerry Doyle Organizations: REUTERS, GUATEMALA CITY, Organization of American States, Guatemalan Attorney General's, Thomson Locations: Guatemala City, Guatemala, GUATEMALA, Washington

☆ Guatemala's Arevalo says state using violence to counter protests, warns of possible 'siege'
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Josue Decavele Acquire Licensing RightsGUATEMALA CITY, Oct 9 (Reuters) - Guatemala's president-elect Bernardo Arevalo said on Monday the government is using violence to counter protests and create tension which could be used as an excuse for declaring a state of "siege," even as the government announced tighter measures. The attorney general's office has conducted raids on the buildings of electoral authorities and Arevalo's Semilla party headquarters and has moved to suspend the party. Late on Monday, outgoing President Alejandro Giammattei said on national TV the country would no longer tolerate street blockades, which he called illegal. "Many of the blockades in the west of the country have counted on the participation and assistance of foreigners," he said. He also called on Arevalo to meet with OAS mediators to ensure a peaceful handover on Jan. 14.

Persons: Josue, Bernardo Arevalo, Arevalo's, Alejandro Giammattei, Giammattei, Arevalo, Sofia Menchu, Nelson Renteria, Valentine Hilaire, Sarah Morland, Brendan O'Boyle, Stephen Coates Organizations: REUTERS, GUATEMALA CITY, Organization of American States, Thomson Locations: Guatemala City, Guatemala, GUATEMALA, Arevalo's, El Salvador, Guatemalan, Arevalo .

Public displays rejecting machinations by the attorney general’s office had been modest in the month since Arévalo’s resounding victory. Historically, Guatemala has scored among the lowest in Latin American countries in its support for democracy, according to the AmericasBarometer survey, which has been measuring attitudes there for three decades. But since the election, Guatemalans have seen attempts by losing parties and the attorney general's office to challenge the results. She said that Guatemalans' perceptions of democracy are very much intertwined with their perceptions of corruption. Now, more people "are betting on democracy,” Arévalo said in a recent interview with The Associated Press.

Persons: Bernardo Arévalo, Guatemalans, Arévalo, d’etat, Sandra Paz, “, ”, Paz, “ I’ve, ” Rachel Schwartz, Schwartz, Sandra Torres, Consuelo Porras, Consuelo, Porras, ” Arévalo, __ Sherman Organizations: GUATEMALA CITY, Vanderbilt University's, Organization of American, Guatemalan, University of Oklahoma, la Constitucion, U.S, Movement, Associated Press Locations: GUATEMALA, Guatemala, Guatemala City, Ecuador, Peru, Mexico City

☆ Opinion | Guatemala’s Democracy Is Dead. Long Live Democracy!
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-03 | by ( Francisco Goldman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

In 1944, a student led revolution, which my mother and uncle were part of, helped usher in Guatemala’s decade of democracy after a century of dictators. I was born in Boston in 1954, the year a C.I.A.-led coup overthrew Guatemala’s elected government. But in 2001, three military officers were convicted of participating in his state-sponsored extrajudicial execution, a landmark verdict that seemed to herald a new era of justice. Efforts to build a working democracy by defending the rule of law and fighting corruption has been the central struggle of 21st-century Guatemalan politics. The commission dismantled 70 organized crime and corruption structures, and charged some 680 people, including two former presidents.

Persons: Guatemala’s, Bishop Juan Gerardi, Jimmy Morales, Morales, Giammattei, ”, Consuelo Porras Organizations: United Nations, Guatemalan Public Ministry, U.S, U.S . State Locations: United States, Boston, Latin America, U.S .

[1/2] Guatemalan presidential candidate Bernardo Arevalo of the Semilla party addresses supporters during his closing campaign rally, ahead of Sunday's presidential run-off, at the Plaza Central in Guatemala City, Guatemala August 16, 2023. REUTERS/Cristina Chiquin/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsGUATEMALA CITY, Aug 21 (Reuters) - Guatemala's Bernardo Arevalo, who won Sunday's presidential run-off by double-digits, is looking to retrace his father's footsteps more than 70 years after Arevalo senior broke a long period of dictatorship to become the country's first democratically elected president. "I'm not my father, but I'm traveling down the same road he built," Arevalo said last week during his campaign's closing rally. The family lived in Venezuela, Mexico and Chile before returning to Guatemala when Arevalo was a teenager. Arevalo took part in the pivotal 2015 protests, and a couple of years later helped create what would become the upstart Seed movement - Semilla in Spanish.

Persons: Bernardo Arevalo, Cristina Chiquin, Guatemala's Bernardo Arevalo, Arevalo, Juan Jose Arevalo, Sandra Torres, Alvaro Montenegro, Otto Perez Molina, June's, January's, Sofia Menchu, Diego Ore, David Alire, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: Plaza Central, REUTERS, GUATEMALA CITY, Central, Prosecutors, Thomson Locations: Guatemala City, Guatemala, GUATEMALA, Central America's, Uruguay, U.S, Venezuela, Mexico, Chile, Israel, Spain

☆ Guatemalans Elect Center-Left Bernardo Arévalo as President
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-20 | by ( Juan Montes | José De Córdoba | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com. https://www.wsj.com/world/americas/guatemalan-front-runner-calls-for-democratic-renewal-f51facb0

Persons: Dow Jones Locations: americas

Police officers stand guard at the Constitucion square, ahead of Sunday's presidential election, in Guatemala City, Guatemala August 19, 2023. Guatemalans now represent the largest number of Central Americans seeking to enter the United States. "I hope that everything is calm, that democracy wins, that there is no fraud or political issues ... and that our country gets ahead more than anything," said Ardem Villagran, 58, a merchant in Guatemala City. Outgoing President Alejandro Giammattei has vowed to ensure an orderly vote and transition of power. Reporting by Cassandra Garrison in Guatemala City, additional reporting by Herbert Villarraga; Editing by Drazen Jorgic and Cynthia OstermanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Pilar Olivares, Bernardo Arevalo, Sandra Torres, Arevalo, Ardem Villagran, Alejandro Giammattei, Engel, Eladio Loizaga, Eric Olson, Olson, Cassandra Garrison, Herbert Villarraga, Drazen Jorgic, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: REUTERS, GUATEMALA CITY, Central, U.S . State Department, of American States, OAS, Seattle International Foundation, Thomson Locations: Guatemala City, Guatemala, GUATEMALA, United States, June's, Central America, U.S

"We have waited for this moment for many years," said Carlos de Leon Samayoa, 27, as he celebrated on the streets of Guatemala City. Arevalo unexpectedly emerged out of political obscurity to build a large anti-graft movement with his Semilla party, after many other opposition candidates were barred from running. [1/9]Guatemalan anti-graft presidential candidate Bernardo Arevalo, of the Semilla political party, poses for a photo during the presidential run-off election, in Guatemala City, Guatemala August 20, 2023. "The ruling pact will likely continue to target electoral officials and Arevalo’s Semilla party with investigations ahead of January’s change in government," she said. POLITICAL TENSIONSBeyond his anti-graft policies, Arevalo said he wants to expand relations with China alongside Guatemala's longstanding allegiance with Taiwan.

Persons: Bernardo Arevalo, Arevalo, Sandra Torres, Alejandro Giammattei, revel, Guatemalans, Arevalo's, Carlos de Leon Samayoa, Torres, Guatemala's, Pilar Olivares, Risa Grais, Arevalo’s, Eladio Loizaga, Giammattei, Ana María Méndez, Cassandra Garrison, Sofia Menchu, Herbert Villarraga, Diego, Drazen Jorgic, Stephen Eisenhammer, Miral Fahmy, Stephen Coates, Gerry Doyle Organizations: GUATEMALA CITY, Central, Twitter, REUTERS, Eurasia Group, Organization of American States, Central America, Diego Ore, Thomson Locations: GUATEMALA, Guatemalan, United States, Guatemala, Americas, Guatemala City, June's, China, Taiwan, Taipei, Honduras, America

CNN —Anti-corruption candidate Bernardo Arévalo, from the progressive Movimiento Semilla party, appeared to have won Guatemala’s presidential election on Sunday, beating former first lady Sandra Torres in a race marred by fears of democratic backsliding. With more than 95% of the ballots counted, Arévalo won 59.1% of the vote compared to Torres’ 36.1%, according to official data from the Supreme Electoral Tribunal. A voter casts their ballot at a polling station during the presidential run-off election in Guatemala City, Guatemala, on August 20, 2023. Prosecutors and judges associated with the commission were arrested and investigated and many have since fled the country. Members of the media who have opposed corruption in their reporting have also faced legal consequences.

Persons: Bernardo Arévalo, Sandra Torres, Arévalo, Torres, Irma Palencia, “, ”, Alejandro Giammattei, Cristina Chiquin, Rafael Curruchiche, Department’s Engel, ” Curruchiche, José Rubén Zamora Organizations: CNN, Movimiento Semilla, Torres ’, Torres ’ Unidad Nacional de la Esperanza, Reuters, US, Central, United Locations: Guatemala, Guatemala City, Central American, United States, United Nations, Guatemalan

☆ Presidential hopeful Sandra Torres pitches experience as Guatemala seeks change
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-17 | by ( Brendan O'Boyle | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Presidential candidate Sandra Torres, of the National Unity of Hope (UNE) political party, greets supporters during a campaign rally ahead of the presidential run-off, in Guatemala City, Guatemala August 5, 2023. REUTERS/Cristina Chiquin/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsAug 17 (Reuters) - Sandra Torres is pitching her two decades as a leading figure in Guatemalan politics as she tries to woo disenchanted voters ahead of a presidential runoff on Sunday and avoid a third straight election loss. Torres, who hails from a poor town in Guatemala's Peten region, has promised to expand the social safety net if elected. But while her party's last government did reduce poverty, Torres' efforts have also drawn criticism for being "clientelistic," said Will Freeman, a fellow for Latin America studies at the Council on Foreign Relations. Torres has sought new allies as she seeks to reverse her election losses, analysts said.

Persons: Sandra Torres, Cristina Chiquin, Torres, Bernardo Arevalo, Alvaro Colom, Will Freeman, June's, Brendan O'Boyle, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: National Unity of, REUTERS, of, Council, Foreign Relations, Gallup, Thomson Locations: Guatemala City, Guatemala, Central America's, United States, Guatemala's Peten, Arevalo

☆ Guatemala elections: Troubled vote looms
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-12 | by ( Tara John | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Torres won 16% of the first-round vote in June with Arévalo coming in with 11.8% of the votes cast. “Guatemalans wanted an option on the ballot where they can vote to reject the current political system. Moises Castillo/APThis is the third presidential cycle Torres has competed in, losing in 2019 to current President Alejandro Giammattei. Guatemala currently recognizes Taiwan, and Arévalo has said he would like Guatemala to have relations with both Taipei and Beijing. Congress is set to be largely controlled by establishment parties following this year’s elections, including the outgoing president’s Vamos party and Torres’ UNE.

Persons: CNN —, Sandra Torres, Bernardo Arévalo –, Torres, Arévalo, “ Guatemalans, ” Will Freeman, backsliding, Arevalo, Cristina Chiquin, Reuters Arévalo, Rafael Curruchiche, ” Curruchiche, “, ” Freeman, Bukele, Alvaro Colom, Moises Castillo, Alejandro Giammattei, Juan José Arévalo, Freeman, Thelma Aldana, Aldana, Luis Von Ahn, Torres ’ Organizations: CNN, Council, Foreign Relations, United, Public Ministry, Reuters, Movimiento Semilla, US State Department, US, European, Unidad Nacional de la Esperanza, Getty, Duolingo, Torres ’ UNE Locations: backsliding, Guatemala, America, United Nations, Guatemala City, Spain, European Union, United Kingdom, Canada, El Salvador, Taiwan, Taipei, Beijing

Search resuls for: "Guatemalans"

25 mentions found