GUATEMALA’s president-elect Bernardo Arevalo called for an end to the judicial persecution against his social democratic Semilla party on Monday. 

Semilla has faced suspension of its legal status by Guatemala’s Registry of Citizens.

But last week the judgement was suspended by the courts until at least October 31.

Anti-corruption candidate Mr Arevalo said that the actions being taken against Semilla will impact on the process of transition towards his inauguration as Guatemala’s president in January 2024.

Current President Alejandro Giammattei has insisted that he is committed to continuing the “an orderly transition of the best quality.”

He has offered Mr Arevalo office space in the National Palace of Culture to maintain “constant communication” to carry out the transition process.

Just days ago the outgoing president said to Mr Arevalo: “I assure you, if my life is necessary for you to take office, there you have it, but you are going to be the next president of Guatemala, whether I like it or not, what matters is that the people elected you.

“As head of state, I guaranteed you a week ago and I guarantee it today (that) you will take office on January 14, that is the decision of the people of Guatemala. It will be good, it will be bad, it doesn’t matter and that decision is respected.”

But Mr Arevalo has insisted that “the process of political persecution and judicial intimidation that is underway by the justice institutions needs to stop.”

In August Mr Arevalo denounced what he said was a plan to mount a coup to prevent him from being inaugurated as president in January.

After Mr Arevalo’s electoral victory during the first presidential round, the country’s Prosecutor’s Office began an investigation process into the legal status of the Semilla party. 

The Prosecutor’s Office has insisted that there were irregularities in Mr Arevalo’s registration for the year 2017. Despite the evidence, the Constitutional Court revoked the ruling and allowed Mr Arevalo to compete in the second round.

Mr Arevalo easily beat the right-wing former first lady Sandra Torres in the August 20 presidential runoff winning over 60 per cent of the vote. Ms Torres won 37.2 per cent in the ballot. 

The Semilla party also won 23 seats in the 160-seat Congress.

Last Tuesday, the Supreme Electoral Tribunal formally declared Mr Arevalo the winner of the election and gave the necessary credentials for him and his running mate Karin Herrera as president-elect.