By María Josefina Arce
The conflict between the controversial Attorney General Consuelo Porras and the new government of Guatemala has been escalating in recent days, given the official's lack of willingness to collaborate and maintain a confrontational posture with President Bernardo Arévalo, who has made clear his commitment to confront corruption and impunity prevailing in the Central American country.
Recently the authorities filed a criminal complaint against Porras and a request to withdraw his immunity, for not responding to the call that Arévalo made to him to participate in the cabinet meeting on January 29.
Porras refused to intervene in the meeting, despite the fact that it is his obligation to attend to the president's calls to coordinate state policies on the issues for which he was invited.
Precisely, the authorities pointed out, the intention expressed in the invitation was to outline actions to advance the commitment to combat corruption and guarantee respect for human rights in the nation.
The courts are now expected to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate the complaint against Porras, who has not ceased to be at the center of the controversy since Arévalo and his Semilla party surprisingly won the general elections last August.
The offensive carried out by the Public Ministry, under his command since 2018, to prevent Arévalo from assuming office as the new president of Guatemala on January 14, which caused many demonstrations, is well known.
In fact, the president accused the official, linked to the political and business elite, of carrying out a coup d'état.
Porras is not well regarded in the Central American nation. It is associated with the judicial persecution unleashed in the last two years against human rights defenders, judges, magistrates and journalists.
Last January, more than 140 thousand signatures were delivered to the General Secretariat of the presidency demanding the resignation of the Attorney General, who has nevertheless reiterated that she will not resign.
A similar demand, backed by 100 thousand signatures, had already been presented to the Public Ministry in June 2023.
Other options are already being considered to remove Porras from office, accused of attacking democracy and rigging corrupt people. But meanwhile, the confrontation between the Attorney General and President Arévalo continues.
