WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senators Peter Welch (D-VT) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) met this week with Bernardo Arévalo, President-elect of Guatemala. They released the following statement:
“This week we welcomed President-elect Arévalo to Capitol Hill to begin a dialogue on his forthcoming agenda, which includes the goals of reducing poverty and hunger, ending corruption, and increasing opportunities for the Guatemalan people.
“We made it clear to President-elect Arévalo that the United States’ support for the democratic will of the Guatemalan people remains steadfast and reaffirmed that the U.S. stands with Arévalo and the Guatemalan people seeking a peaceful, orderly transfer of power. Attempts to delegitimize the results of the country’s elections are a threat to Guatemalan democracy and must not be allowed to succeed. We applaud the Biden Administration’s efforts to support Guatemalan democracy and hold corrupt actors accountable.”
Senator Welch released a statement in August following Guatemala’s runoff elections, which can be read here. He has long called for an end to corruption and impunity in Guatemala.
See photos of the meeting here.
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