Textos de la UE

The recent actions by the Guatemalan General Prosecutor's Office (Ministerio Público), including its request to strip the democratically elected President Bernardo Arévalo of his immunity, are part of a broader and highly concerning pattern of politically motivated allegations and investigations targeting the current government.

The EU has repeatedly voiced its concern over the ongoing misuse and instrumentalisation of the justice system, particularly in the wake of the 2023 elections and ongoing efforts to overturn the will of the Guatemalan people.

The EU remains steadfast in its commitment to supporting democracy in Guatemala and remains vigilant against any actions that threaten democratic governance or further erode the rule of law. In this context, the EU recalls the restrictive measures it imposed this February against five individuals responsible for actions that undermine democracy, the rule of law, or the peaceful transfer of power in Guatemala.

The European Union (EU) is concerned about the latest court sentence handed down on 8 July to Virginia Laparra, a former senior prosecutor who had been active in investigating high-level corruption in Guatemala.

The EU has previously denounced efforts to intimidate independent Guatemalan judges, lawyers and prosecutors who are investigating corruption and fighting impunity by subjecting them to criminal charges and investigations.

The EU remains concerned by efforts to undermine the rule of law through persecution or intimidation of public officials, democratically-elected authorities, civil society, media and judicial operators. We also expresses our continued support for democratically-elected President Arévalo's efforts to tackle corruption and strengthen the rule of law through his programme of reforms in Guatemala.

Señor presidente de la República de Guatemala [Bernardo Arévalo], señor ministro [de Asuntos Exteriores, Carlos Ramiro Martínez], señoras y señores,

Tuve el placer de visitar Guatemala hace pocas semanas, para asistir a la toma de posesión del presidente Bernardo Arévalo.

No fue una toma de posesión cualquiera, pero fue una toma de posesión trascendental. Trascendental porque se pudo llevar a bien y a buen final la voluntad de los guatemaltecos. Y, ahora, es un gran placer recibirle a usted aquí en Bruselas. A usted [presidente], y a usted, señor ministro.

Es un honor tenerles con nosotros para firmar este Memorando de Entendimiento, del que ya habíamos hablado - recuerda presidente, cuando nada más llegar a Guatemala nos entrevistamos, y dijimos que, cuando usted estuviera en la presidencia, la relación entre Guatemala y la Unión Europea debía florecer y desarrollarse.

Y con este Memorando que ya habíamos planeado entonces, y que hoy firmamos, lo que hacemos es demostrar una voluntad clara y firme de reforzar nuestras relaciones bilaterales, estableciendo un diálogo regular, abierto, y estructurado entre la Unión Europea y Guatemala. Como la Unión Europea tiene con todos aquellos socios con los que quiere tener una relación privilegiada.

Ello va a desarrollar nuestras relaciones políticas, comerciales y de cooperación. Con usted, señor presidente y con su gobierno, pero también y, sobre todo, con el pueblo de Guatemala.

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The Council decided today to impose restrictive measures against five individuals for actions that undermine democracy, the rule of law or the peaceful transfer of power in Guatemala.

The listings include the Attorney General of Guatemala, María Consuelo Porras Argueta De Porres and three other officials at the Guatemalan Public Prosecutor's Office - Secretary General Ángel Arnoldo Pineda Ávila, Head of the Special Prosecution Office Against Impunity José Rafael Curruchiche Cucul and prosecutor Leonor Eugenia Morales Lazo De Sánchez - as well as judge Fredy Raúl Orellana Letona.

Those targeted are responsible for undermining democracy, the rule of law and the peaceful transfer of power in Guatemala.

The listed individuals are subject to an asset freeze, and EU citizens and companies are forbidden from making funds available to them. The individuals are also subject to a travel restriction, which prevents them from entering or transiting through EU territories.

Today's decision follows the adoption, on 12 January 2024, of a dedicated framework for restrictive measures in support of democracy and a peaceful and orderly transfer of power in Guatemala. The framework was adopted ahead of the inauguration of democratically elected President Bernardo Arévalo on 14 January 2024, attended by the High Representative Josep Borrell.

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Last week, I travelled to Guatemala to attend the inauguration of President Bernardo Arévalo, following his clear victory in the Presidential election on 20 August. It was the first visit by an EU High Representative to Guatemala and a clear sign of our commitment to support the people of Guatemala and their democracy. A democracy that has been repeatedly under threat from within.

Our engagement with Guatemala over the past months serves as a case study of what is possible when the EU's foreign policy tools are used in a mutually reinforcing way. The EU's electoral observation mission played a decisive role in strengthening confidence in the process, upholding the election results and refuting false accusations of fraud. After the elections, we engaged in diplomacy to strongly condemn persistent attempts to overturn the results and efforts to suspend President Arévalo's political party, Movimiento Semilla. Immediately prior to the inauguration, we adopted a sanctions framework that will allow imposing measures - such as travel restrictions or asset freezes - on those who have been undermining democracy, the rule of law and the peaceful transfer of power in Guatemala.

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Buenos días y gracias a todos y a todas por acompañarnos en esta visita.

Esta visita, déjame que utilice también las lenguas originarias de esta tierra: Sacarík, Té iósh, Mashat Saqéu.

Gracias. Una vez más, gracias. Porque ustedes han venido hasta aquí acompañándome en este encuentro con las comunidades y ha sido un gran placer apreciar y conocer lo que estas comunidades son capaces de hacer en su relación con la naturaleza.

No es esta mi primera visita a Guatemala, pero sí es mi primera visita a Petén. Y ayer tuve la satisfacción de asistir a la inauguración del presidente - del nuevo presidente y ya presidente - Bernardo Arévalo. He querido asistir en nombre de la Unión Europea a la toma de posesión del presidente Arévalo. No solo eso, también visitar las raíces del pueblo de Guatemala en este lugar, como un testimonio de nuestro compromiso - del compromiso de los europeos, de la Unión Europea - con el pueblo de Guatemala y con su futuro democrático, que ayer quedó sellado después de algunos problemas con la toma de posesión del presidente Arévalo.

He tenido ocasión de conversar con él, antes y después de su toma de posesión. Le he manifestado la voluntad de los europeos de trabajar estrechamente con él para fortalecer la gobernanza democrática en Venezuela y el Estado de Derecho, combatir el cambio climático, pero también combatir la corrupción, y desarrollar el País de una forma progresiva e inclusiva.

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Señor Presidente electo, señoras y señores, buenas noches a todos y a todas.

Es un gran honor para mí, señor Presidente electo, estar en Guatemala en este momento histórico para asistir - representando la Unión Europea - a su inauguración en oración del presidente Bernardo Arévalo, tras su clara victoria en las pasadas elecciones.

Esta visita, que es la primera de un Alto Representante de la Unión a Guatemala, es una muestra de nuestro respaldo al nuevo gobierno del presidente Arévalo, pero también es la demostración del compromiso firme de la Unión Europea con el pueblo de Guatemala y su democracia. Una democracia que ha estado amenazada y que estamos aquí para defender y apoyar.

Quiero destacar el papel que jugó nuestra misión de observación electoral y la posición firme de la Unión en defensa de los resultados electorales y la adopción ayer mismo, por parte del Consejo de la Unión Europea, de un marco jurídico de sanciones que podrá ser aplicado contra los que dificulten el normal desarrollo del proceso democrático en Guatemala.

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High Representative/Vice President Josep Borrell will be in Guatemala from 13-16 January. This marks a first ever visit by the EU High Representative to the country and HR/VP Borrell's 6th visit to the Latin America and Caribbean region during his current mandate.

On 13 January, the HR/VP will meet with President-elect Bernardo Arévalo to discuss strengthening the EU-Guatemala partnership and dialogue, the new government's priorities and areas of shared interest for potential cooperation. A press point will take place, which can be followed on EbS. The visit is testimony of the EU's firm support to democracy in Guatemala. It follows the deployment of an EU Election Observation Mission (EOM) to Guatemala, to observe the 2023 general elections; the EU's support to a peaceful and orderly transition of power; and the adoption of a dedicated framework for restrictive measures, on 12 January 2024, in support of democracy. Beyond the transition of power, the EU, as a longstanding partner of Guatemala, stands ready to work closely together with the new administration on key priorities of shared interest, such as strengthening governance, the rule of law and support a national agenda for inclusive and sustainable development.

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The Council today established a dedicated framework for restrictive measures in support of democracy and a peaceful and orderly transfer of power in Guatemala.

Today's decision will allow the European Union to hold accountable those obstructing a democratic transition following the 2023 general elections, which resulted in a clear victory of President-elect Bernardo Arévalo, as attested by the EU Election Observation Mission (EOM) to Guatemala.

Thanks to this new framework, the EU will be able to impose restrictive measures against individuals and entities responsible for actions that undermine democracy, the rule of law and a peaceful transfer of power in Guatemala, including through persecution or intimidation of public officials, democratically-elected authorities, civil society, media and judicial operators among others, as well as through financial misconduct concerning public funds and the unauthorised export of capital.

Any targeted restrictive measures shall consist of a travel restriction for individuals and an asset freeze for individuals and entities. In addition, persons and entities in the EU shall be forbidden from making funds and economic resources available to those listed.

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Mr President, Honourable Members of the European Parliament,

Now we change the problem, and we go back to an old problem, which is the situation in Central America, in particular in Guatemala.

I have just spoken with the President-elect Mr Bernardo Arévalo, to whom I transmitted the support and solidarity of the European Union.

And I am continuing in Spanish because I know that he is, maybe, following this debate, siguiendo este debate.

Un debate convocado como señal inequívoca del respaldo de las instituciones europeas a la democracia en Guatemala.

Y como alto representante de la Unión [Europea], le acabo de trasladar una invitación de alto valor simbólico y político que es, que pueda participar, cuando sea presidente, en las reuniones de nuestras instituciones, en particular el Consejo de Asuntos Exteriores - si los [Estados] miembros [de la Unión Europea] lo consideran pertinente.

Pero antes hay que superar la grave situación política por la que pasa Guatemala. El viernes pasado, la Fiscalía guatemalteca volvió a actuar para tratar de revocar las elecciones presidenciales, basándose en denuncias infundadas de fraude. Desde la Unión Europea y yo, como responsable de las misiones de observación electoral, considero que eso es inaceptable y además muy peligroso. Porque, en efecto, la misión de observación electoral de la Unión Europea, así como otros observadores internacionales y nacionales, no encontraron, cuando observaron las elecciones, ningún fundamento para tales acusaciones. Y eso es lo que dije el pasado viernes, condenando estos intentos de anular los resultados de las elecciones generales y presidenciales en Guatemala, y avalando la clara victoria del presidente electo, [el] señor Bernardo Arévalo, que tomará posesión - espero - el próximo 14 de enero.

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