Many analysts believe that he could have become president if he had been allowed to run.

But the race went awry Wednesday night when a court granted a prosecutor’s motion to suspend Semilla’s work over allegations that she had more than 5,000 illegal affiliates, including 12 deaths.

The race for President Alejandro Giammattei’s successor, who is legally barred from running again, has already drawn international criticism after he other opposition candidates were disqualified earlier in the process.

The controversy over the elections, the official results of which were delayed due to complaints of irregularities by Semillus’ opponents, exacerbated the situation. fears for democracy and justice in Guatemala.

Thursday morning, prosecutor’s office searched the Civil Registry Office of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) as part of the Semilla investigation.

The suspension drew international condemnation.

Union European (EU), States single and other countries Towarned that the seed suspension was threat to democracy.

Guatemala’s international donor group known as the G13, which includes the US, Canada and the UK, said they were deeply concerned about the actions that threaten the credibility of the TSE. Chile and Norway repeated.

Mexico backed the court’s ratification of the results of the first round, which was delayed due to allegations of wrongdoing filed by Semilla’s opponents.

Prosecutor Rafael Curruchiche, whose anti-impunity office demanded Semilla’s removal from office, had previously attacked anti-corruption activists and was placed on the US State Department’s Engel list. “corrupt and undemocratic actors”.

Asked about the possibility of the United States imposing sanctions on those responsible for the suspension of Semilla, the State Department spokesman referred to the sanctions already imposed on Curruchiche and Attorney General Maria Consuelo Porras, but declined to say more. “We do not expect further action,” the spokesman said.

UNEXPECTED SUNRISE

Polls have shown Arevalo, a former diplomat and son of former president Juan José Arevalo, trailing ahead of the first round. His surprise second place on the day of June 25 shocked the Guatemalan political class.

Arévalo told reporters on Thursday that he believes the court decision against Semilla violated a Guatemalan law that prohibits the suspension of political parties during elections.

“We are in the race, we are moving forward and we are not going to stop there in front of this corrupt group.”

The Guatemalan government said in a statement that it would “stay aloof” from any lawsuit and would respect the winner of the election announced by the TSE.

Torres, Arévalo’s rival for president, called for the vote to be respected and said he was suspending his campaign in solidarity with Semilla’s voters.

Corruption allegations have plagued successive administrations, and the United States – Guatemala’s main trading partner and key source of remittances – has repeatedly criticized what it sees as efforts to prevent a government purge.

At the same time, Semilla’s candidacy for the 2019 presidential election, former Attorney General Telma Aldana, was banned.

Aldana then had a reputation for fighting corruption and helped to overthrow, prosecute and imprison former conservative President Otto Perez.

Arevalo said after the suspension that his party was aware of the forged signature and that Semilla herself convicted the culprit in March. However, the party never had access to the case file, he said. Reuters.