[1/2] Police stand guard as people gather during a protest accusing Guatemala's authorities of trying to block the accession of President-elect Bernardo Arevalo, in Guatemala City, Guatemala November 21, 2023.
REUTERS/Cristina Chiquin/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsGUATEMALA CITY, Dec 1 (Reuters) - Guatemala's ruling-party-led Congress on Friday stripped four electoral judges accused of fraud of their immunity from prosecution, in a move critics fear is aimed at blocking President-elect Bernardo Arevalo from taking office next month.
The move by Congress is seen as an attempt to appoint judges who oppose Arevalo's election and is the latest in a series of measures that could hinder the transition of power.
Orlando Blanco, a representative for the VOS political party, said the objective was to name anti-Arevalo judges.
"They want to ignore the electoral results and they need the electoral court to abide by that decision," Blanco said.
Persons:
Guatemala's, Bernardo Arevalo, Cristina Chiquin, general's, Arevalo, Irma Palencia, Ranulfo Rojas, Gabriel Aguilera, Mynor Franco, Orlando Blanco, VOS, Blanco, Sofia Menchu, Sarah Morland, Diane Craft
Organizations:
Police, REUTERS, GUATEMALA CITY, Congress, San Carlos University, United Nations, Human Rights, Thomson
Locations:
Guatemala City, Guatemala, GUATEMALA, Guatemalan, Palencia, U.S