05/10/2023 (Agence Europe) – The European Union once again expressed, on Thursday 5 October, its “deep concern” at persistent attempts to obstruct the transfer of presidential power in Guatemala following the victory of the leader of the Semilla movement, Bernardo Arévalo (see EUROPE 13239/22). In a statement issued by the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell, it described the actions of the Attorney General (Ministerio Público) - intimidation of judges, raids on the premises of the Guatemalan Supreme Electoral Tribunal, seizure of electoral registers, attempt to suspend Semilla - as a “serious threat to democracy” in the country. For the EU, those who try to obstruct the democratic process will be held to account. In addition, it warned that future attempts to go against the results of the ballot box would “have an impact” on EU/Guatemala bilateral relations. (MB)