Head of the Anti-Corruption Commission will not attend the meeting with Porras

The owner of the National Commission Against CorruptionSantiago Palomo, ruled out his participation in the meeting of “inter-institutional articulation and coordination” that was convened by the attorney general and head of the Public Ministry (MP), Consuelo Porras.

“When we notice that there is a commitment to fight corruption, we will work with any institution and actor. From that perspective, at this time we do not notice that commitment,” he expressed in a press conference held at the National Palace of Culture.

Palomo added that during the morning a letter will be sent to the MP declining his participation and added that he has an agenda for this Thursday, which includes training for the work team and a meeting with the Minister of Communications, Jazmín de la Vega.

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“We have received an invitation from the Attorney General’s Office to attend a meeting. However, in a few moments we will decline that invitation,” the commissioner said.

And he noted that they expect the Prosecutor’s Office to fulfill its “constitutional function of investigating,” as well as emphasizing that they are “focused on fighting corruption head-on.”

“In the meantime, we are focused on actions, rather than meetings,” the lawyer also noted.

The National Commissioner Against Corruption, @santipalomovprovides details about the meeting to which he was invited by the Attorney General of the @MPguatemala. pic.twitter.com/LK6Qnrjg0V

— Government of Guatemala (@GuatemalaGob) February 21, 2024

Invitation to the anti-corruption commissioner

The Guatemalan Prosecutor’s Office invited Palomo Vila last Tuesday, through a letter signed by Porras, to participate in a meeting scheduled for next Thursday, February 21 within the framework of “the responsibility that the State has to guarantee life, freedom, justice, security, peace and the comprehensive development of Guatemalans through the various public institutions that provide services that guarantee the full enjoyment of these rights.”

The Government of Bernardo Arévalo had agreed in early February to work with the Prosecutor’s Office after a meeting between Porras and the Minister of the Interior, after two failed attempts to arrange an appointment between the president and the official in the midst of a tense atmosphere.

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@emisorasunidas897

Attorney General, Consuelo Porras, abandoned a meeting requested by President Bernardo Arévalo, and argues legal reasons. . . #FiscalGeneral #ConsueloPorras #Arevalo #MP #ReunionMinistros #Guatemala

♬ original sound – Emisoras Unidas

The invitation was also given on the same day that the Government of Canada sanctioned the attorney general, two prosecutors and a judge for “corruption and flagrant and systematic violations” of human rights in the Central American country, for having “worked tirelessly to undermine democracy and prevent the peaceful transition of power.”

This sanction is already added to those made by the United States and the European Union, which have also accused Consuelo Porras of corruption, who is the head of the Attorney General’s Office that carried out a series of judicial actions to prevent the inauguration of President Bernardo. Arévalo de León last January.