What to Watch For as Guatemala Descends Into Political Crisis

Guatemala's political crisis will likely continue regardless of whether authorities prevent President-elect Bernardo Arevalo from taking office, creating long-term domestic challenges for organizations while threatening U.S.-Guatemala relations. On Dec. 8, the Attorney General's office called for the results of Guatemala's Aug. 20 general elections to be annulled, claiming ''serious irregularities'' in the vote tally. The action followed months of repeated raids against Guatemala's Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE), the court that regulates elections in the country, and Arevalo's Seed Movement Party. The call to annul the vote also marked the most explicit effort by the office so far to prevent Arevalo from assuming the presidency on Jan. 14, 2024. The office called for Congress to remove Arevalo's immunity as well, which would open the door to formal charges against him and his possible arrest. On Dec. 14, however, Arevalo secured a rare win when the Constitutional Court issued an order commanding...