Guatemalan president Otto Perez Molina resigned on Thursday and was taken into custody following allegations of corruption against him which accused the now former president of taking bribes from outside companies who were importing goods into the country. “I’m calm and I will face the situation bravely because I’ve done nothing wrong” the now former president said during an interview proclaiming his innocence.
The accusations of corruption levied against Mr. Molina include him taking bribes totaling $3.7 million dollars from outside companies who importing goods into the country and then in turn expected favors from Mr. Molina. The move comes as the pressure started to build since the accusations came forward in April, which have fueled the protests that have taken place within recent weeks.
“It’s one thing to listen but another to investigate. All Guatemalans have to respect the law and I assure you I will respect the law and this process” Mr. Molina continued in his statement on Thursday.
The power of the protesters who have forced the president to resign from his position has shocked the region and many within the country as Guatemala, a country with a violent history and one with a young democracy has seen that fragile democratic process tested with these new allegations.
Leading up to an agreement in 1994, Guatemala endured a 36 year old civil war between rebels and the government which saw numerous military coups and overthrows leading to instability throughout the country. The civil war combatants included mainly left wing groups who rose up against the government who implemented a programme to eliminate people who believed in left wing viewpoints, leading to an estimated 50,000 deaths.
There have been at least 3 military coups in Guatemala since the 1970s which saw the leaders who were in power at the time overthrown by people who used the military to get into power.
Guatemalan prosecutor Antonio Morales said Mr. Molina “was part of a group in operation since May 2014 whose objective was to steal from the state.” In line with the Guatemalan system, if the current President is impeached and convicted with a crime, he is replaced with the Vice President, who is, Alejandro Maldonado after the congress voted 132-0 to impeach Mr. Molina. They then confirmed Mr. Maldonado as the president.
“At last, the most corrupt president in the history of Guatemala is gone” Guatemalan protester, Juan Carlos Carrera an enthusiastic protester said of the recent removal of the president.
The move comes 3 days before the country is set to hold elections on Sunday, September 6th where the Guatemalan people will vote for the President, the Vice President and also all 158 members of congress.
“I have always said I will respect due process. I do not have the slightest intention on leaving the country,” Mr. Molina continued in his resignation speech on Thursday.
Some of the candidates running for the Presidency include Manuel Baldizan a longtime politician, and who is currently leading with 30%, while other candidates include, Jimmy Morales and Alvaro Colom.
A 50% threshold must be reached by the candidates otherwise a runoff election will be held.
“We’re waiting for them to return everything they stole and we’re talking about a lot of money. We need hospitals”, a protester said Sunday following the closing of the polls.
Ultimately, even though the processes of a democratic system is a messy one and yes, sometimes, corrupt, it is still the best option as opposed to, for example a military dictatorship where you have no rights and your very existence is threatened everyday especially if you oppose the current regime and the Guatemalan people should be proud of the progress they made and continue in that direction.
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