Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

On behalf of the United States, we again congratulate Bernardo Arévalo on his election as the next president of Guatemala, as confirmed by the vote results certified on August 28.  We salute the people of Guatemala for making their voices heard, and we applaud the many officials and volunteers whose dedication made these elections possible.

The United States remains concerned with continued actions by those who seek to undermine Guatemala’s democracy.  Such anti-democratic behavior, including efforts by the Public Ministry and other actors to suspend the President-elect’s political party and intimidate election authorities, undercuts the clear will of the Guatemalan people and is inconsistent with the principles of the Inter-American Democratic Charter.  We stand with our partners in the international community and with the Guatemalan people against these unacceptable efforts, including the use of prosecutorial powers against those who seek transparency and accountability.

The United States and Guatemala enjoy deep bonds between our peoples and shared interests in democracy, security, inclusive economic prosperity, and human rights.  Cooperation between the United States and Guatemala improves the lives of citizens in both of our countries and throughout the region.  We look forward to working with Guatemala’s next president to further strengthen the U.S.-Guatemalan relationship and move our nations toward a better future.