The Constitutional Court of Guatemala has issued a ruling suspending the officialization of the election results due to complaints of irregularities raised by right-wing parties.
This decision has cast doubt on the electoral process and raised concerns from the European Union (EU) and the Organization of American States (OAS).
The Constitutional Court accepted an injunction and ordered the Supreme Electoral Tribunal to halt the qualification and officialization of results.
The purpose is to ensure that all issues are thoroughly addressed before the scheduled second round for the presidential election.
Several right-wing parties had requested the injunction to prevent the declaration of victory for specific candidates without a prior investigation into alleged irregularities.
The Constitutional Court holds the highest authority in the country, overseeing potential violations of the Constitution, and its decisions are not subject to appeal.
In the initial round of the general elections, social democrats Sandra Torres and Bernardo Arévalo secured the highest number of votes among 22 candidates.
They will now proceed to a run-off election on August 20.
According to the injunction, a new scrutiny review hearing will be summoned to allow legitimate parties to present objections and challenges they deem relevant.
If evidence suggests that the vote’s outcome may have been altered, the Departmental and/or Central District Electoral Board will make necessary modifications or assess the conditions for potential annulment as defined by the law.
The allegations of fraud emerged after the election, particularly when Bernardo Arévalo unexpectedly advanced to the run-off despite being initially projected in eighth place according to polls.
The EU and OAS have called for respect for the will of the people expressed in the ballot boxes.
They emphasize the importance of upholding the rule of law, separation of powers, and resolving any electoral disputes in accordance with the law and the people’s democratic choice.
The suspension of Guatemala’s election results pending further investigation of irregularities reflects the ongoing efforts to ensure a transparent and credible electoral process.