MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the attempted coup d’état in Guatemala
12.12.2023 - (2023/3031(RSP))
pursuant to Rule 132(2) of the Rules of Procedure
Angel Dzhambazki, Hermann Tertsch
on behalf of the ECR Group
See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B9-0526/2023
B9‑0531/2023
European Parliament resolution on the attempted coup d’état in Guatemala
The European Parliament,
– having regard to its previous resolutions on Guatemala,
– having regard to the statements of the EU Election Observation Mission Guatemala and the Electoral Observation Mission of the Organization of American States (OAS),
– having regard to Rule 132(2) of its Rules of Procedure,
A. whereas on 20 August 2023, the president of the party Movimiento Semilla, Bernardo Arévalo, won the presidential elections in Guatemala; whereas the victory was confirmed by the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) on the same day;
B. whereas also on the same day, the electoral registry ruled to suspend the legal status of the Movimiento Semilla; whereas on 3 September 2023, the TSE annulled the suspension of the Movimiento Semilla party, clearing the way for Bernardo Arévalo to officially assume the office of president;
C. whereas the anti-democratic behaviour witnessed in Guatemala goes against the clear will of the Guatemalan people and undermines Guatemala’s commitments to the Inter-American Democratic Charter;
D. whereas the Guatemalan Migration Institute reported that three judges of the TSE had left the country after Congress decided to withdrawing their immunity in the framework of an investigation against the organisation for the purchase and fraudulent use of a computer program; whereas the TSE has stressed that the procedure of withdrawing the immunity of the judges was illegal, as they were never notified of being parties to the case;
E. whereas the TSE has denounced the political persecution by the Public Prosecutor’s Office, which is seeking to overturn the results of the most recent elections; whereas the TSE has declared the results of this year’s presidential race unalterable after the public prosecutors openly questioned whether to annul the vote;
F. whereas the TSE has warned that if the President-elect, Bernardo Arévalo, and his number two, Karin Herrera, do not take office on 14 January 2024, there will be a breakdown in the constitutional order; whereas the OAS has also condemned the statements of the Public Prosecutor’s Office as an attempted coup d’état;
G. whereas during recent years, Guatemala has seen a deterioration in the rule of law, violations of human rights, a lack of judicial independence, and impunity in the fight against corruption, one of the main factors driving emigration from Guatemala;
1. Stresses that the international community and its election observation bodies have confirmed the will of the Guatemalan people;
2. Is deeply concerned about the alarming and unprecedented actions taken by certain individuals and groups to undermine the results of Guatemala’s free and fair election;
3. Expresses its support for Guatemala’s peaceful political transition; encourages the Public Prosecutor’s Office to stop obstructing the smooth transfer of power to the president-elect, who has committed to stamping out corruption in Guatemala;
4. Calls on all Guatemalan political parties, branches of government and institutions to respect the integrity of the electoral process and guarantee Guatemalan citizens their civil and political rights, including the protection of elected officials, in compliance with international and regional standards and domestic laws;
5. Is alarmed by the ongoing attempts to strip TSE officials of their immunity and by the unprecedented raids on their offices and storage facilities which house the election results; extends its support to the ongoing work of the OAS Special Mission to assist with the presidential transition, in accordance with the mandate of the OAS Permanent Council;
6. Expresses concern about the arbitrary detention of prosecutors, judges, independent journalists and human rights defenders;
7. Calls on the Guatemalan authorities to adopt all necessary measures to safeguard the rule of law and respect for democratic principles and the will of the Guatemalan people;
8. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Vice-President of the Commission /High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the Council, the Commission, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, the Council of Europe and to the acting President, Government and Parliament of Guatemala and the Organization of American States.