Biden sanctions Alejandro Giammatei, Guatemala's right-wing former president, for alleged corruption

The United States announced the imposition of sanctions on the former president of Guatemala, Alejandro Giammattei, for his alleged participation in acts of corruption during his term (2020-2024). The measure prohibits the former president from entering US territory.

The spokesperson for the State Department, Matthew Miller, reported this Wednesday that neither Giammattei nor his children, Ana Marcela, Alejandro Eduardo, and Stefano Giammattei, will be able to enter the United States. This is due to “credible information” that the United States has about the bribes that the former president would have accepted “in exchange for the performance of his public duties” during his presidential term.

“The United States has made clear that it stands with Guatemalans who seek accountability for corrupt actors,” said the statement, which accuses Giammattei of undermining “the rule of law and government transparency” in Guatemala.

In the statement, Miller recalls that in the last three years, sanctions have already been imposed on almost 400 people, including public officials and members of the private sector, among others, “for engaging in corrupt activities or undermining democracy or the rule of law in Guatemala.” Likewise, he assures that the United States will remain committed to “strengthening transparency and governance” of the Central American country.

The United States also sanctions a former minister

The US Treasury Department also decided to impose economic sanctions on former Guatemalan Energy Minister Alberto Pimentel, who was a member of Giammattei’s cabinet from January 2020 to July of last year.

Pimentel is also accused of receiving bribes in exchange for mining and energy exploitation contracts and licenses in the country while he held his position, according to the statement.

The inauguration of Arévalo

It should be noted that the decision to sanction the former Guatemalan president comes a few days after the inauguration of Bernardo Arévalo de León, who won the elections precisely after focusing his campaign on the fight against corruption.

The social democrat Bernardo Arévalo took office as president last Monday after weeks of uncertainty due to the attempts of the Public Ministry and the previous Congress to hinder the arrival of the new government.