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Guatemala’s president has appointed the controversial lawyer common to a second time period in a transfer disappointing to many Guatemalans and international governments crucial of her backsliding on corruption investigations
GUATEMALA CITY — Guatemala’s president reappointed the lawyer common who the U.S. final 12 months labeled an “undemocratic actor” to a second time period Monday, a transfer disappointing to many Guatemalans and international governments crucial of her backsliding on corruption investigations.
President Alejandro Giammattei mentioned Consuelo Porras deserved one other 4 years main the workplace.
“I’m satisfied that the Lawyer Common’s Workplace have to be an impartial establishment,” the president mentioned, including that the method of her choice was clear.
“It’s a sovereign resolution,” he added, in obvious reference to worldwide stress.
Porras, standing with Giammattei for the announcement, mentioned she had strengthened the establishment, guaranteeing it acted with out bias or ideology.
“Previously it was getting used for political and ideological ends,” Porras mentioned.
Critics have accused her of the other: defending political figures, together with the president, from corruption investigations.
Earlier Monday, Porras, 68, defended her file throughout her annual report. She mentioned that beneath her management the workplace had enforced the nation’s legal guidelines and sought justice for all with out exceptions.
Porras was initially appointed in 2018 by then President Jimmy Morales. That is the primary time Guatemala has given its high prosecutor a second consecutive time period.
In August 2019, a bit greater than a 12 months after Porras’ appointment, Morales ended the United Nations anti-corruption mission whereas he was beneath investigation. Porras, at the very least publicly, didn’t push again in protection of the mission.
Over 12 years, the mission had supported the Particular Prosecutors Workplace Towards Impunity in dismantling dozens of felony networks whereas on the similar time constructing their capability to deal with advanced corruption instances.
Throughout her time period, greater than 20 prosecutors, judges and magistrates have gone into exile, fearful they are going to be prosecuted in retaliation for his or her work on corruption instances.
Final 12 months, she fired Juan Francisco Sandoval, who led the Particular Prosecutors Workplace Towards Impunity and who had been applauded for his work. He fled the nation.
The U.S. authorities protested publicly, labelled Porras an undemocratic actor undermining efforts towards corruption and pulled her visa. A State Division official mentioned on the time that Sandoval’s removing “contributes to the notion that there’s a systematic effort in Guatemala to weaken those that struggle towards corruption.”
On Monday, Porras described her workplace’s work towards corruption as precedent-setting, however provided no clarification on how.
Porras has been a frequent goal of road protests in latest months expressing a common dissatisfaction with the federal government and calling for her ouster.
Juan Pappier, Human Rights Watch senior researcher for the Americas division, mentioned Monday that Porras had blocked corruption investigations and pursued meritless instances towards journalists, judges and prosecutors.
“This resolution is the demise blow to the struggle towards impunity in Guatemala,” Pappier mentioned. “If the worldwide group doesn’t take pressing multilateral measures, democracy and the rule of legislation in Guatemala might be at nice danger throughout her new time period as Lawyer Common.”
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