Guatemalans protest to urge president resignation over scandal
Thousands of protesters in Guatemala have taken to the streets in the capital to demand the resignation of the Central American country’s president over his alleged involvement in a major corruption scandal.
The massive protest was held in Guatemala City on Thursday by demonstrators who want President Otto Pérez Molina to step down and the September 6 presidential election to be postponed.
Pressure is growing on Molina to step down over a fraud scandal that has thrown the country into a political crisis. Hundreds of businesses and schools reportedly closed in support of the protests on Thursday.
The attorney general’s office, which is trying to launch an impeachment process against Molina, has also urged the president to step down “to prevent ungovernability that could destabilize the nation.”
Meanwhile, Guatemala’s Supreme Court has ruled that Congress could strip Molina of immunity from prosecution – which would facilitate impeachment – over the multi-million-dollar customs fraud scheme.
Molina’s government is on the ropes due to an alleged corruption racket involving bribes funneled to a chain of officials for reducing tariffs the importers were required to pay.
The president, who could face official charges, has denied any involvement in the graft scandal and said he would not resign.
However, five of his cabinet ministers and eight deputy ministers have stepped down over the corruption scandal. Guatemala’s ambassador to the UN has also quit his position.
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