Guatemalans protesters call for resignation of corruption-plagued president
Thousands of Guatemalans have taken to the streets of the capital to protest against corruption in the government, calling for the resignation of President Otto Perez Molina.
On Saturday night, some 5,000 protesters marched in downtown Guatemala City, demanding the resignation of the country's corruption-plagued president.
The demonstrators, who were marching from the Supreme Court to the National Palace in the city's historic center, shouted slogans against Perez.
“The president's resignation is a starting point and would breathe fresh air into the situation. It wouldn't resolve all the problems but would be a good way to move forward,” Juan Alberto Fuentes, a former finance minister, told AFP during the rally.
“We live with much injustice in Guatemala, the governments are complicit in corruption,” said Oscar Farfan, a 40-year-old protester.
Opposition parties have requested the probe against Perez, who is currently facing a pre-trial investigation into corruption accusations.
On June 30, Guatemala's Constitutional Court rejected Perez's appeal for presidential immunity from a congressional corruption probe.
On Friday, a Congressional committee recommended that Perez be stripped of his immunity from prosecution over fraud scandals.
Earlier in April, a UN-backed investigation reported that senior customs officials had received bribes from businessmen seeking to avoid paying taxes.
Guatemalan Vice President Roxana Baldetti resigned from her post in May after the Supreme Court unanimously ruled that there was enough evidence potentially linking her to corruption allegations. She denied any wrongdoing.
An aide to the vice president, Juan Carlos Monzon, who is now a fugitive from the law, is reportedly the main suspect in the graft.
YH/KA
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