They asked for sanctions for Guatemala in the European Parliament on behalf of the MP

The European Parliament discussed the situation of “violation of human rights, democracy and the rule of law in Guatemala.”

The European Parliament discussed this Wednesday, September 13, the electoral crisis and what they called “violations of democracy in Guatemala.” European parliamentarians are demanding economic and political sanctions for the country.

“The Guatemalan population has spoken clearly and said they are tired of impunity the status quo and the agreement between the corrupt,” said representative Manuel Urbán Crespo, founder of the political organization Podemos.

During his speech, he indicated that the position of the European Union should be “clear and strong, using all the means of throwing diplomatic pressure, including the suspension of the temporary application of the trade pillar of the Association Agreement with the European Union. with Guatemala”.

Likewise, Antoni Comín I Oliveres, executive vice president of the Consell per la República and deputy of the European Parliament since July 2019, regrets the actions of the Public Ministry (MP) and recalls that it criminally prosecuted the justices of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal. (TSE).. “The headquarters of this organization was recently raided to break the chain of custody of the votes,” said Comín.

“Previously, it banned the registration of indigenous leader Thelma Cabrera. And what will happen next? Therefore, the (European) Union must be very strong in the face of this outrage and must act directly against those responsible ,” he said. In addition, he recalled that the United States has already allowed prosecutors “who carried out this attack against democracy by order of the local oligarchs and Europe should do the same,” he stated.

He added: “It is very urgent that the Commission (of the European Parliament) proposes to the Council to change the sanctions regime of the (European) Union to include corruption as a sanctionable case and that those responsible for it be prosecuted without. delay. interference with the democratic freedom of Guatemala”.

The discussion in the European Parliament included more than ten speakers who showed their concern about what is happening in the country, a fact that they described as “an unprecedented democratic breakdown” that must be avoided.

In their interlocutions, the European deputies directly blamed the MP for actions against the electoral process and condemned the opening of the ballot boxes, a fact they described as “an attack and violation of integrity and purity in the electoral process” in Guatemala. .

Actions

The European parliamentarians requested the approval of a motion in which they mocked the actions of the MP, while regretting the “continuous attempt to suspend the Semilla Movement”, urging the Guatemalan political parties, powers and government institutions to respect the integrity and electoral results. process.

“Some members of the judiciary and the Attorney General’s Office (Public Ministry) interfered in the election process; several prosecutors of the Public Ministry are on the Engel List of the United States, including Attorney General María Consuelo Porras, José Rafael Curruchiche, head of the Special Prosecutor’s Office Against Impunity (FECI) of the Public Ministry, and Judge Fredy Orellana”, they pointed out in the motion proposal uploaded on the official website of the European Parliament.

The discussion will continue on Thursday, September 14, where it will be decided if the motion is supported by the remaining parliamentarians. If so, the European Union authorities should discuss what sanctions they can establish against Guatemala.