Jorge Antonio Serrano Elías, president of Guatemala until yesterday (June 1), He left office after not accepting a resolution from the Constitutional Court (CC)supported by the Army, and in which they ordered the restoration of the legal order broken by the former president.
In a press conference, Dr. Epaminondas González, president of the Constitutional Court, and General José Domingo Samayoa, Minister of Defense, announced yesterday the official statements, which contain the legal justification for the return to the country’s constitutionality.
Representatives of the press, the political, university and economic sectors and the human rights attorney, Ramiro de León, participated.
Self-coup of May 25, 1993
The CC dissolved by Serrano on May 25 declared unconstitutional that same day the former president’s decree, by which he dissolved Congress, the Supreme Court of Justice and transgressed constitutional articles by arrogating to himself powers that did not concern him.
On May 31, the CC ruled that the former president continued to act in obvious disregard of the sentence.
By virtue of the disobedience and opposition to the decisions issued by the Court, he requested that the Ministers of National Defense and the Interior provide assistance in complying with the sentence.
At 11:35 a.m., Serrano Elías leaves the presidential house and enters the Palace parking lot. It was the last time he appeared publicly, accompanied by the head of the Presidential General Staff, and despite the press’s attempt to interview him, the president responded by insulting the journalists.
From the Prensa Libre editorial of June 2, 1993
This one from Serrano was a blow in the strictest sense. An incredible abuse of power. But, above all, monumental nonsense. He destroyed himself and let down all those who believed in him. The man who seemed a skillful manipulator of political situations, became entangled in the threads of his egocentrism and collapsed without pain or glory.
New president
Lawyer Ramiro de León Carpio, who worked as a Human Rights Attorney, became the president of Guatemala yesterday, June 5, after being appointed by the full Congress by decree 16-93. De León Carpio was elected to complete the presidential term until January 14, 1996.
*With information from editions 13402 and 13405
write the story
This note is part of the commemorative series of our diamond wedding, it is a journey through news that marked the history of Guatemala, with original texts and images from each era, as a reliable testimony of our mission of service.