President Bernardo Arévalo addressed a message to the population, this Sunday, May 17, in which he assured that the departure of Maria Consuelo Porras of the Attorney General’s Office of the Public Ministry (MP) represents “the end of a cycle” and the beginning of a new stage for the country.
In a public letter, the president stated that Porras’ departure puts an end to the “hijacking” of the Public Ministry by “political-criminal networks” that, he said, used the institution to perpetuate corruption and ensure impunity.
He added that for years the MP was used to cause harm to Guatemala, by facilitating organized crime operations and persecuting people critical of the system.
“A hijacking of justice to use it as a weapon of intimidation, persecution and punishment for anyone who hindered or opposed their corrupt machinations,” he said.
Remember protests of 2023
Arévalo recalled the protests and mobilizations of citizens and indigenous authorities in 2023, who defended the electoral results questioned by the MP led by Porras.
He also made reference to the judicial processes against justice operators, journalists and indigenous leaders.
“Criminalizing justice operators, like Virginia La Parra; journalists, like José Rubén Zamora, and rights defenders,” he indicated.
Obstacles during his government
The president maintained that during his administration he faced obstacles promoted by the Public Ministry.
“They blocked processes, persecuted in a cowardly manner and created falsehoods to hinder our actions, including direct persecution of my government officials,” he stated.
In addition, Arévalo assured that he chose to act within the legal framework to remove María Consuelo Porras from office since January 2024, when he took office as president.
new dawn
The president indicated that the arrival of Gabriel Estuardo García Luna As the new attorney general and head of the MP, he represents a “new dawn” for the country.
“Today I ask you not to stop. Today I ask you to have and strengthen hope for the future,” he expressed.
