Guatemala city. Guatemala’s attorney general, Consuelo Porras, was re-elected yesterday by the president, Alejandro Giammattei, for another four years in office, despite having been included by the United States in a list of “corrupt actors.”
“I have made the decision to appoint the current Attorney General, María Consuelo Porras Argueta, to serve as Attorney General and head of the Public Ministry for the next four years,” Giammattei said.
The governor assured that Porras is a professional who meets all the constitutional requirements and that she obtained the unanimous favorable vote of the commission that evaluated the candidates. “This has not been an easy decision taken lightly,” she added.
The media or political accusations that may exist according to our Constitution (…) have no value to deprive a person of his capacity, suitability and honesty, “added the ruler.
Porras was placed in 2021 by Washington on a list of “corrupt actors”. One of the actions that led to the sanction against Porras was the dismissal last year of Juan Francisco Sandoval, then head of the Special Prosecutor’s Office Against Impunity (FECI) and considered an “anti-corruption champion” by Washington.
Now he is exiled in the United States, after denouncing threats against his life.
Sandoval said in March that his dismissal occurred after it became known that he had information “of a possible bribery of Russian businessmen” to President Giammattei to operate a port on the Caribbean.