Guatemala’s Top Party Is Suspended, Putting Election Into Turmoil
Guatemala’s presidential election has been thrown into turmoil after a top prosecutor moved to suspend the party of a surging anticorruption candidate, threatening his bid to take part in a runoff and potentially dealing a severe blow to the country’s already fraying democracy.
The move on Wednesday could prevent Bernardo Arévalo — the lawmaker whose surprisingly strong showing in the first round of voting in June jolted Guatemala’s political class — from competing against Sandra Torres, a former first lady, in the Aug. 20 runoff.
Rafael Curruchiche, the prosecutor who mounted the case against Mr. Arévalo’s party, has himself been placed on a list of corrupt Central American officials by the United States for obstructing corruption inquiries.
Mr. Arévalo, in a news conference on Thursday, said he would proceed with his candidacy regardless, contending that under Guatemalan law political parties cannot be suspended during an electoral process.
Source: The New York Times
