GUATEMALA CITY (AP) 鈥 Guatemala President Bernardo Ar茅valo says opposition in the Congress and the Attorney General's Office have made it difficult to implement the change he seeks for the Central American nation which he found 鈥渟emi-destroyed鈥 when he took office almost six months ago.
The was elected in August after voters angry at widespread corruption and leaders鈥 failure to tackle it made a decisive choice for change, elevating his long shot candidacy.
Central America鈥檚 most populous country and the region鈥檚 largest economy continues to struggle with poverty and violence that have driven hundreds of thousands of Guatemalans to migrate to the U.S.
鈥淲hat has impacted me the most is seeing how corruption has impacted the executive capacity of all the country鈥檚 institutions; the levels of abandonment and dysfunctionality of the institutions are terrible,鈥 Ar茅valo said Thursday in an interview with The Associated Press.
Ar茅valo and his posed a threat to those who have long wielded power in Guatemala. from taking office in early January.
Ar茅valo said he understands that Guatemalans want quick responses to the promises he made in his political campaign, and when they are delayed the public grows frustrated.
The promises focused on cleaning up corruption and , although Porras remains in office today.
Porras was legally selected by unpopular former Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei for a second four-year term ending in 2026.
She has criminalized political opponents such as the Seed Movement party, journalists, and exiled former prosecutors and judges who reported being persecuted for having investigated acts of corruption.
Porras has been sanctioned by the U.S. government and 40 other countries for hindering the anti-corruption fight and . Ar茅valo said he would not remove her by force.
鈥淲e have a fundamental commitment to the democratic system and we are not going to resort to non-democratic measures to rescue democracy,鈥 Ar茅valo said. The most extreme voices have called for Ar茅valo to use the army or the police to oust Porras.
Ar茅valo also holds Porras responsible for delaying investigations in different corruption cases. His government has filed over 100 complaints.
Porras has denied interfering in corruption cases and refused to step down from her position.
鈥淧eople would like to see that the corrupt are being punished," Ar茅valo said. 鈥淲e take the first step (report)... but it all stops at the Public Ministry, where there is no investigation of complaints.鈥
Ar茅valo has made addressing Guatemala's public infrastructure shortcomings a priority and said his administration had made some progress. 鈥淧eople need to see that needs are being met, that health and education are improving,鈥 he said.
His administration has revamped more than 4,000 schools and carried out public infrastructure projects in many of those areas.
He said he plans to meet with outgoing Mexican President Andr茅s Manuel L贸pez Obrador before he leaves office in October and with incoming President Claudia Sheinbaum.
