Arévalo Sworn In as Guatemalan President Despite Obstruction Efforts, Faces Major Challenges from Entrenched Interests
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Incoming Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo was sworn in just after midnight despite efforts to derail his inauguration. He narrowly won August's election.
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Arévalo has little support in congress and faces Attorney General Consuelo Porras, who has a term until 2026 and tried to legally challenge and jail Arévalo before he took office.
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Arévalo is an academic and progressive reformer, but faces huge obstacles from entrenched interests in Guatemala opposed to his anti-corruption stance.
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Thousands of indigenous Guatemalans protested to demand respect for Arévalo's election win and call for the resignation of Porras.
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The international community, especially the U.S., E.U., and O.A.S., strongly supported Arévalo's election and warned against undermining Guatemalan democracy.