Today, the Atlantic Council hosted a discussion with Bernardo Arévalo, a Guatemalan presidential candidate, who shared his vision and priorities for the country’s future. The recent raid of the Movimiento Semilla party headquarters has sparked controversy in the closely watched Guatemalan election. Arévalo, who will compete in the second round on August 20th, represents Movimiento Semilla – a political party that emerged in response to demonstrations against widespread corruption uncovered by the International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG). Arévalo has experience as a deputy in Congress since 2020 and has held several roles within Guatemala’s foreign service, including minister counselor in Israel, ambassador to Spain, and deputy minister of foreign affairs. What are Arévalo’s policy proposals to tackle Guatemala’s political and economic challenges? How can trust be restored in Guatemala’s political and electoral systems? What support does the international community need to ensure a free and fair electoral process on August 20th?
