Early on 3  September, it became known that General Otto Pérez Molina planned to report to the judge voluntarily to make a statement and avoid being arrested and that he would later resign as president of the republic. And that is exactly what happened. About midday, it was reported that the president had indeed been to the national congress and presented his resignation. Vice-President Alejandro Maldonado Aguirre was sworn in as the new president of the republic. He will hold office until 14 January 2016. General elections were already scheduled for 6 September, including elections for president and vice-president.

After the public prosecutor and the International Commission Against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG) presented evidence to the court against General Otto Pérez Molina, Judge Gálvez charged him with unlawful association, bribery and customs fraud and ordered him to be remanded in custody to avoid the former president fleeing and leaving the country.

The Guatemalan people have continued to demonstrate almost every day since a national strike ended on 27 August. This was one more victory in its fight against corruption. 

Rosa Pavanelli, General Secretary of Public Services International said: “This is one more step in the difficult fight to recover the state of Guatemala and provide decent public services for a new Guatemala. A Guatemala where there is no impunity and where there is respect for life, human rights and trade union rights. We hope that the country will be able to achieve genuine social and economic reconstruction after these elections.”

More information:

• Political crisis in Guatemala (PSI website)
• Congreso da posesión a Maldonado Aguirre como Presidente (Prensa Libre -article in Spanish)
• Califican de victoria ciudadana renuncia de Pérez Molina (Prensa Libre - article in Spanish)