On Tuesday 12 December, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell, stressed that the European Union was “ready to act” to sanction Guatemalan judicial figures who are trying to prevent the Semilla movement’s leader, Bernardo Arévalo, from taking power following his victory in the presidential elections (see EUROPE 13311/8).
“In the light of the latest statements from the Guatemalan prosecutor’s office, which is run by politically motivated prosecutors, we have agreed to adopt a legal framework that will allow us to take restrictive measures against those responsible for these actions, and we are preparing to do so”, said Mr Borrell during a debate at the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg.
He again called on the country’s authorities to respect the will of the Guatemalan people.
On Thursday, MEPs will adopt a joint resolution condemning attempts to undermine the integrity of the electoral process. In their respective draft declarations, the Renew Europe, S&D and Greens/EFA groups advocate calling for the adoption of targeted measures against Guatemalan figures who oppose Mr Arévalo’s accession to power next January, unlike the EPP, ECR and The Left groups.
The radical left group advocates suspending the provisional application of the commercial side of the association agreement between the EU and Central America and imposing sanctions on EU multinationals that violate human rights in Guatemala. (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)