22/05/23 (Agence Europe) – On Sunday 21 May, the European Union expressed its “concern” after the Guatemalan justice system suspended the candidacy of Carlos Pineda, a businessman who was polling well in the run-up to the general elections, due to be held on Sunday 25 June. This suspension follows previous refusals to register other candidates: peasant movement activist Thelma Cabrera and Roberto Arzú, son of former president Alvaro Arzú. The EU is calling on the Guatemalan authorities to remove obstacles to the registration of candidates and to resolve any disputes “in full transparency, impartiality and in compliance with the Guatemalan Constitution” in order to give Guatemalans “ a genuine choice” on election day. A European Election Observation Mission, led by Jordi Cañas (Renew Europe, Spanish), is being deployed to Guatemala (see EUROPE 13173/34). (MB)