Thursday September 28, 2023
  • Venezuela
  • Mexico
  • Colombia
  • Chile
  • Brazil
  • Argentina
  • Podcast
Versión Español
PanAm Post
  • Home
  • Regions
    • South America
    • North America
    • Central America
    • Caribbean
  • Politics
  • Economics
  • Opinion
  • Podcast
  • Authors
  • Contact
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Regions
    • South America
    • North America
    • Central America
    • Caribbean
  • Politics
  • Economics
  • Opinion
  • Podcast
  • Authors
  • Contact
No Result
View All Result
PanAm Post
No Result
View All Result

Home » Pérez Molina Has No One Left to Lean On

Pérez Molina Has No One Left to Lean On

Contributor by Contributor
May 25, 2015
in Politics
FacebookTwitterTelegramWhatsapp
Perez Molina
Interior Minister López Bonilla and President Otto Pérez Molina in happier times.  (Soy502)

EspañolGuatemalan President Otto Pérez Molina is facing the worst crisis of his administration since he took power in January 2012. Seemingly surrounded by corruption scandals, he told a press conference on Thursday that his cabinet “isn’t collapsing” and insisted that he will not resign his office.

Various groups have called for his removal since the customs corruption scandal known as The Line emerged, and several officials have even jumped ship from his administration, including members of his Patriotic Party (PP).

RelatedArticles

The new socialist supremacisms: a maoist cultural revolution undermines the US

The new socialist supremacisms: a maoist cultural revolution undermines the US

August 21, 2021
GETTR: the powerful weapon of Trump and international right wing

GETTR: the powerful weapon of Trump and international right wing

July 13, 2021

The resignations began on Friday, May 8, when Pérez Molina announced the resignation of Vice President Roxana Baldetti. Soon after followed the departure of Mining and Energy Minister Erick Archila, claiming that he was being blackmailed by the Renewed Democratic Liberty party (LIDER).

On Thursday, Guatemalan politics took an even more unexpected turn. Mauricio López Bonilla, one of the closest allies of Pérez Molina, resigned his position as interior minister, despite repeated denials in recent days that he was considering such a move. Also exiting the cabinet where Environment Minister Michelle Martínez and Vice Minister of Security Edy Juárez.

The Patriotic Party’s government is beset by scandal and its credibility is nearing zero. Guatemalans have taken to the streets in their tens of thousands to protest, and the changes at the top are set to continue.

Will the President Resign?

Pérez Molina told Thursday’s press conference that no new cabinet ministers had indicated their intention to resign, suggesting that the flight of top officials had stopped. He also said that he would remain in his post in order to “improve the image” of his administration. But the doubts continue: Baldetti argued the same in the days leading up to her departure from the vice president’s office.

Also on Thursday, CNN journalist Fernando Del Rincón interviewed the former interior minister with regard to his resignation. López Bonilla repeatedly said that his decision to step down was part of a strategy to “overcome the crisis” besetting the government.

Foto: Gerardo Sánchez.
Protesters gather in Guatemala City. (Gerardo Sánchez)

Pressure on the president to resign continues, with rural farm workers’ organizations marching in recent days to call on him to step down. Pérez’s fall seems ever more likely as his isolation deepens.

Protests have also demanded reform to the Electoral Law and Political Parties Law, seeking to avoid September’s elections returning a new crop of politicians that will fall victim to the same corruption scandals as the last.

The Scandal Deepens

As the uproar over The Line continues, last week a new corruption scheme was uncovered within the Guatemalan Social Security Institute (IGSS).

On Wednesday morning, police arrested Juan de Dios Rodríguez, the institution’s director and former private secretary to Pérez, as well as president of the Bank of Guatemala and vice president of Social Security Julio Roberto Suárez Guerra.

An investigation carried out by the Public Ministry (MP) and the International Commission Against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG) discovered that IGSS had been awarding contracts to under-qualified firms. Also on Wednesday, police arrested 17 officials of its Managing Council and Contracting Council. Among those arrested was Otto Molina Stalling, son of Judge Blanca Stalling, who worked in the financial area of the IGSS.

CICIG Commissioner Ivan Velásquez indicated that the Managing Council handed out contracts worth 116 million quetzals (US$15 million) in favor of Mexican pharmaceutical firm Pisa S.A. to provide care for kidney patients. However, Velásquez explained, “the company had no experience in dialysis treatment.” Multiple patients who were treated by the firm died and others were hospitalized.

Translated by Laurie Blair.

Tags: Guatemala
Contributor

Contributor

Related Posts

The new socialist supremacisms: a maoist cultural revolution undermines the US
Columnists

The new socialist supremacisms: a maoist cultural revolution undermines the US

August 21, 2021
GETTR: the powerful weapon of Trump and international right wing
United States

GETTR: the powerful weapon of Trump and international right wing

July 13, 2021
Three Signs That Elon Musk Has the World at His Fingertips
News

15 Republicans Who Voted Against Trump Are Already Facing the Consequences

February 1, 2021
Three Key Moments to Remind Us That the UN Is a Nest of Oppressive Regimes
Asia

Chinese Regime Silences Relatives of COVID-19 Fatalities During WHO Visit

January 29, 2021
Three Key Moments to Remind Us That the UN Is a Nest of Oppressive Regimes
Analysis

Three Key Moments to Remind Us That the UN Is a Nest of Oppressive Regimes

January 29, 2021
Dollarization Advances in Venezuela with Debit Cards for Foreign Currency Accounts
Argentina

Argentina Drags Chile in its Bipolar Madness Over Venezuela

January 28, 2021
Next Post
Colombia’s Mining Deaths Won’t Be Solved by More Regulation

Colombia's Mining Deaths Won't Be Solved by More Regulation

Subscribe free and never miss another breaking story

  • Venezuela
  • Mexico
  • Colombia
  • Chile
  • Brazil
  • Argentina
  • Podcast

© 2020 PanAm Post - Design & Develop by NEW DREAM GLOBAL CORP. - Privacy policy

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Regions
    • South America
    • North America
    • Central America
    • Caribbean
  • Politics
  • Economics
  • Opinion
  • Podcast
  • Authors
  • Contact

© 2020 PanAm Post - Design & Develop by NEW DREAM GLOBAL CORP. - Privacy policy

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Privacy and Cookie Policy.