Guatemalans rise up amid presidential election challenges

• The attorney general's office, whose leaders are in a U.S. State Department list of undemocratic or corrupt actors in Central America, claimed it received evidence that the party falsified party members' signatures — an allegation Semilla denies.
• The move came after several political parties challenged the results of the June 25 first-round vote, in which Arévalo, who campaigned on ending corruption, stunned many by coming in second place. The challenge led to a partial recount, but the results were officially certified last Wednesday.

What they're saying: Pamela Ruiz, Central American analyst for the nonpartisan think tank International Crisis Group, says the attorney general doesn't even have the power to suspend political parties and that the move is an example of the deterioration of the Guatemalan political system.

• However, she says it's a positive sign that other institutions didn't play along with the attorney general's office and that it jolted people to "a level of peaceful mobilization that has been very different to the sort of passiveness seen from citizens in the last few years."

• "This whole process is likely gonna stretch out like a marathon ... but Guatemalans are simply fed up. They want a change and they're voting for the change. And that needs to be respected."

Context: The AG's moves come as the current government of President Alejandro Giammattei has been accused of a record number of attacks against activists, journalists and independent judicial workers.

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