Anjali Sharma
GG News Bureau
UNITED NATIONS, 10th Dec. UN chief Antonio Guterres on Saturday in a statement released by his spokesman Stephane Dujarric in New York said that Mr. Guterres was alarmed at the attempt by Guatemala’s attorney general’s office to annul the general election result and prevent President-elect Bernardo Aravelo from taking office in January.
Guterres in a statement pointed out the top elections tribunal had certified Mr. Aravelo’s landslide victory at the polls in late August.
According to news reports, his centre-left Seed Movement party has faced several investigations from prosecutors who has alleged past party registration and voting irregularities.
Mr. Aravelo referred to prosecutors’ investigations as an “attempted coup”, designed to prevent his taking office on 14 January.
The top electoral court said the results must stand, and the outgoing Government issued a statement late on Friday said the transition of power to Mr. Aravelo was inevitable.
Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said in a statement that “The Secretary-General reiterates his call for the respect of the will of the Guatemalan voters and for a smooth transition of power in January”.
“The Secretary-General trusts that the results of the election as certified by the Supreme Electoral Tribunal will be respected,” the statement said
UN human rights chief Volker Türk said the move on Friday by the attorney general’s office to annul the transfer of power was “extremely disturbing.”
He stressed that judicial harassment and intimidation against electoral officers and elected officials was unacceptable.
“It is encouraging that, despite the long list of judicial and political actions taken by some authorities, which clearly undermine the integrity of the electoral process and breach the rule of law and democracy, people have been standing up for their rights and have been opposing what they perceive as a theft of their political will,” Volker added.
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