Guatemala's Pro-Democracy Protests Continue for Second Week, Causing Countrywide Standstill

Protests in Guatemala demanding the resignation of Attorney-General Consuelo Porras and the smooth transition of power to President-elect Bernardo Arévalo have entered their second week, causing tension in the country. Supporters of Arévalo accuse Porras of plotting against him and obstructing his promised fight against corruption. While the protests had been peaceful initially, they turned violent on Monday when masked individuals disrupted a demonstration, pelting stones and breaking windows. Around 200 troublemakers reportedly infiltrated the event, threatening protesters, journalists, and clashing with the police. Government officials have confirmed that these clashes were caused by these infiltrators. Arévalo's party, Movimiento Semilla, was suspended immediately after his significant victory in the presidential election, leading to speculation that it was an attempt to prevent him from taking office in January. Arévalo labeled the suspension as a "coup d'etat." In response, his supporters have taken to the streets, demanding the removal of Attorney-General Porras, whom they believe is behind the efforts to block Arévalo. Porras argues that his party was not properly registered, but critics question the timing of her investigation, which commenced after Arévalo's strong showing in the initial election round. The protests have intensified as demonstrators have blocked major roads, causing fuel and food shortages and disrupting traffic. Outgoing President Alejandro Giammattei has called for an end to the blockades, characterizing them as illegal and endangering lives. He also requested Arévalo to engage with mediators from the Organization of American States to ensure a peaceful transition of power when Giammattei's term concludes on 14 January.