US President Joe Biden on Monday congratulated Guatemala's new chief Bernardo Arevalo, praising his counterpart's inauguration as “a testomony to our shared dedication to democracy and the desire of the individuals.”
“I stay up for persevering with the robust partnership between our nations as we advance human rights, strengthen civil safety, fight corruption, tackle the foundation causes of migration, and broaden financial alternative for individuals in our hemisphere and around the globe “Biden stated in a press release from the White Home.
Arevalo, a 65-year-old former lawmaker, diplomat and sociologist, precipitated a significant shock when he emerged from obscurity final August to win elections, leaving voters bored with bribery in one in every of Latin America's poorest nations.
He took the oath of workplace after warding off a barrage of makes an attempt to cease him from taking energy, together with by prosecutors dealing with bribery allegations and carefully linked to the political and financial ruling class of the nation.
The US State Division additionally underscored the position of democracy in Guatemala after Arevalo's inauguration.
“We applaud the Guatemalan individuals for advancing the reason for democracy underneath difficult circumstances,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated in a press release.
Blinken praised “Guatemala's establishments, civil society and the worldwide group for making certain electoral integrity, voting methods and processes.”
Arevalo was inaugurated round midnight on Sunday after hours of wrangling over the standing of lawmakers in his social gathering.
He succeeds Alejandro Giammattei, amongst whom a number of prosecutors who fought in opposition to corruption had been arrested or compelled into exile.
Guatemala ranks thirtieth out of 180 nations by Transparency Worldwide, which ranks nations from most to least corrupt.
Additionally it is probably the most unequal nations in Latin America, a actuality that, along with excessive charges of violent crime, has compelled a whole lot of 1000’s to threat the harmful journey to america within the hope of a greater life.