Rights Action has been providing regular updates on the ongoing machinations currently plaguing Guatemala as it heads towards the second round run-off in the Presidential elections. Under the heading of Guatemala Election Watch, regular posts have included translated pieces from Prensa Comunitaria, items from Democracy Now, a cartoon from well-known Filochofo, and pieces from Al Jazeera, among other notes.
There is a wealth of important articles here relating to the elections.
The title above, relates to a piece by Francisco Simón Francisco in Prensa Comunitaria.
Regarding the disinformation that has been generated in social networks regarding his candidacy and the work plan of the Seed Movement [Movimiento Semilla] party, Bernardo Arévalo assured that “they are symptoms of desperation”. “As they have no arguments they are resorting to lies and inventions”.
“The success of our movement in the general elections, has awakened the fear of the corrupt who intend to continue controlling our country”, said this afternoon in a press conference, Bernardo Arévalo, the presidential candidate of the Seed Movement who will dispute the second round on August 20.
Arévalo, accompanied by Karin Herrera, the vice-presidential candidate, and some of the deputies elected in the first round of elections held on Sunday, June 25, said he will defend the will of the people of Guatemala.
“I assure you that we will not be intimidated. Together, as Guatemalans committed to democracy, we will defend our right to freely choose our destiny,” he said.
He mentioned that more than 14 parties, who are exactly the same, and who have governed with total impunity, are trying to discredit the results that respond to the will of the people.
[…]
Regarding the results obtained, which placed them in second place, behind Sandra Torres of the National Unity of Hope (UNE), he said: there is a difference of more than 200 thousand votes between the results of Semilla and those of its immediate competitors, an unquestionable proof of the will of the people and of our passage to the second round.
We cannot allow the same old parties, frustrated and disappointed by their poor results in the first round, to tarnish and call into question the free decision of thousands of Guatemalans who voted for a different future.
We call on the people of Guatemala to prepare ourselves to defend hope, he concluded.
You can read the full piece, including a link to the original in Spanish, here, Bernardo Arévalo: “The corrupt are afraid of the will of the people”.
You can read all of the updates from Rights Action, here, Guatemala Election Watch.
You can subscribe to their updates here, Rights Action Subscribe.
Categories: Accompaniment, Corruption, Criminalisation, Guatemala, Human Rights, Impunity, Justice, Legal, Presidential Elections, Solidarity in Action
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