GUATEMALA’S Supreme Court yesterday rejected a motion by president-elect Bernardo Arevalo to halt prosecutors’ legal moves against him that he said amount to an “ongoing coup” to prevent him from assuming power in January.

The protective measures requested by Arevalo were denied, Leonel Marroquin, one of the judges sitting on the court, said in a video shown to journalists.

Arevalo, a political outsider and anti-corruption crusader, scored a shock upset win at the polls in August.

His triumph and his pledge to fight graft are widely seen here as alarming to an old guard political elite.

Since the election he has faced an onslaught of legal challenges, including attempts to suspend his political party and prevent him from assuming power. Mass protests have been held in his support.

Arevalo had asked the High Court in September to annul the decisions against him and instead prosecute Attorney-General Consuelo Porras. He had also sought protection against judge Fredy Orellana and prosecutor Rafael Curruchiche.

The three officials have been placed on a list of “corrupt actors” by US authorities and are prohibited from entering the United States.

Also yesterday, the Organization of American States issued a resolution denouncing attempts to “prevent a peaceful transition of power” on January 14 to the president-elect and called for an end to an “act of intimidation” in Guatemala. – AFP, November 16, 2023.