Bernardo Arévalo’s Inauguration: A new chapter for Guatemala?
Today is a new day for Guatemala as the outsider, Bernardo Arévalo, is set to be inaugurated. Despite this new dawn, Arévalo’s presidency will be marked by an array of difficulties.
Today is a new day for Guatemala as the outsider, Bernardo Arévalo, is set to be inaugurated - a move that highlighted a political awakening in a nation weary of corruption and impunity. Arévalo, not leading in the polls, came shockingly 2nd in the first round of the presidential elections before becoming victorious. Despite this new dawn, Arévalo’s presidency will be marked by an array of difficulties.
A presidency full of challenges?
Since being elected Bernardo Arévalo has faced numerous challenges and today’s inauguration is no different as it will take place amidst a sea of doubts and tensions. His presidency will also be marked by challenges and difficulties.
The current Attorney General, Consuelo Porras, has tried every legal trick in the book to put Arévalo on trial or in jail before he takes office. For instance, prosecutors have attempted to suspend Arévalo’s political party, Movimiento Semilla, and strip Arévalo of his immunity three times. There is a possibility that Porras will remain as Attorney General during Arévalo’s presidency as her term finishes in 2026, meaning that all of Arévalo’s moves will be heavily scrutinised. It is not yet clear whether Arévalo will be able to remove her from office.
Arévalo’s Seed Movement Party (Movimiento Semilla) will not have a majority in Congress and there is a risk that Congress will not formally recognise the party and his presidency. The Seed Movement Party only has 23 in the Congress out of a potential 160 - 83 seats are needed to form a majority. This is exemplified by the fact that the leader of the Congress (Arévalo’s opposition), is unlikely to turn up for the inauguration which could pose legal challenges as the leader of the Congress is supposed to attend.
The outgoing Congress has passed a limited budget which will make it virtually impossible for Arévalo to finance his electoral promises.
His anti-corruption stance and outsider status are threats to the nation’s deep-rooted interests, especially the interests of the ruling elites, and it will be difficult to eradicate the nation’s corruption which is ingrained in its political institutions.
Arévalo’s inauguration will take place as a result of local protests, mostly by the country’s indigenous populations, in the name of protecting democracy. Furthermore, the international community has condemned the numerous attempts to disqualify Arévalo and called upon the respect for the results of the elections.
Who is the new Arévalo Government?
Arévalo is an academic, diplomat and the son of the country’s first democratically elected leader, Juan José Arévalo, who was elected after the uprising against the US-backed dictator, Jorge Ubico.
He will be leading the country with the support of his 15 cabinet ministers, with half of them being females.
Minister of Interior - Francisco Jiménez Irungaray
Irungaray has extensive experience in citizen security and peace building. He’s an expert in Civil Intelligence to combat crime and in the management of social conflicts.
Minister of Foreign Affairs - Carlos Ramiro Martínez Alvarado
Martínez Alvarado followed a career as an ambassador and internationalist. He has previously represented Guatemala before the United Nations.
Minister of Communications, Infrastructure, and Housing - Jazmín De la Vega Espinoza
De la Vega Espinoza is an architect with master's degrees in Evaluation, Control and Environmental Law.
Minister of Education - Anabella Giracca
Graduate in Letters and Philosophy, with experience in the preparation of school and academic texts for education. She was general coordinator of the Bilingual Literacy Program of the Rafael Landivar University and USAID.
Minister of Defence - Henry Sáenz Ramos
Sáenz Ramos is a Brigadier General, with two master's degrees in Resource and Technology Administration and in Public Security.
Minister of Public Finance - Jonathan Menkos
Menkos is a development specialist with a Human Rights focus. He directed the Central American Institute of Fiscal Studies (ICEFI)
Minister of Labor and Social Security - Miriam Roquel
Roquel is a lawyer with a master’s degree in human rights.
Minister of Economy - Gabriela García-Quinn
García-Quinn has more than 25 years of experience in international development working on attracting trade and investment.
Minister of Energy and Mines - Anayté Guardado
Guardado has a Master's Degree in Business Administration and emphasis on Sustainable Development. She previously directed the Association of Renewable Energy Generators.
Minister of Public Health and Social Assistance - Dr. Óscar Cordón
Dr Cordón has extensive experience in Public Health management. Whilst in the United States he worked as an advisor in Global Public Health.
Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Food - Maynor Estrada Rosales
Estrada Rosales is an Agricultural Engineer from the University of San Carlos and holds a master's degree in Agricultural Economics.
Minister of Culture and Sports - Liwy Grazioso Sierra
Grazioso Sierra is a Guatemalan archaeologist with an extensive track record in cultural heritage conservation.
Minister of Environment and Natural Resources - Maria José Iturbide
Iturbide is an environmental expert with a PhD in Environmental Policy and Planning from Lincoln University in New Zealand.
Minister of Social Development - Abelardo Pinto Moscoso
He holds a master’s degree in Government and Public Management, specialised in the execution of social community resilience projects.
What to expect for the future?
Arévalo’s inauguration will be a symbolic new chapter in Guatemala as the country welcomes a democratically elected leader willing to fight institutional corruption.
At the same time, Arévalo faces many challenges to be able to fulfil his presidential mandate. The main challenges include: the lack of parliamentary majority, the lack of support by the attorney general, and a very limited budget.
I will continue analysing Arévalo’s presidency in the coming weeks.
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