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News > Latin America

Election Fund Complaint Formally Ratified Against Guatemalan President

  • Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales

    Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales | Photo: EFE

Published 8 September 2017
Opinion

Jimmy Morales has denied any wrongdoing in the campaign finance scandal

A complaint against the Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales, accusing him of hiding his election campaign fund sources, has been ratified before the nation's legislative commission.

RELATED:
Guatemalan Supreme Court Authorizes Lifting of President's Immunity

Prosecutor Jose Curruchiche, from the Public Ministry's office on Electoral Crimes, and attorney Luis Orozco, from the International Commission Against Impunity in Guatemala, or Cicig, have formally presented their accusations against Morales

Curruchiche provided evidence that the National Convergence Front party received and concealed over US$919,000 during Morales' 2015 election campaign, when Morales was the party's secretary general.

But they could not confirm if the money was personally collected by Morales; Curruchiche said there were “indications” that he had, while Orozco said the investigation was only beginning.

According to the investigators, only Morales and lawmaker Javier Hernandez were entitled to sign and credit checks.

The five commissioners — all opposition lawmakers appointed on September 5 and led by Julio Ixcamey — will deliver a report to the Congress' plenary session once the interviews are over.

Of the 158 congressional seats, 105 votes would be needed to lift the president's immunity, which would forces his resignation if he faces prosecution.

Morales was cited for an interview, but he may send a representative to make a declaration in his name, as he still benefits from immunity.

Large demonstrations demanding Morales' resignation have taken place in recent weeks, with anger growing after Morales' attempt to quash a series of investigations by the Cicig as well as remove the U.N. anti-corruption body's chief,  Ivan Velasquez.

Morales said in a statement that he has always respected the rule of law and the separation of powers between different branches of government.

He has denied any wrongdoing in the campaign finance scandal that has tarred all of the country’s top parties.

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