Ranking Member Shaheen, Senator Kaine Statement on Guatemala’s Judicial Selection Processes and Rule of Law

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Tim Kaine (D-VA) released the following statement regarding Guatemala’s ongoing judicial selection processes.

“The upcoming selection process for Guatemala’s most important institutions will play a decisive role in shaping the country’s trajectory for years to come. We are closely following today’s concerning reports of intimidation and mass disenfranchisement as the judicial selection processes in Guatemala begin and will continue following the remaining judicial selection processes in Guatemala over the next few months. It is essential that transparency and the rule of law are maintained throughout the process so that the citizens of Guatemala can continue to have faith in their democracy. Any attempt by organized criminal actors to influence the outcome of these selection processes will have negative consequences on Guatemala’s standing in the region and its relation to the United States and will deter future private investment.

“We welcome the deployment of election observation missions by the Organization of American States (OAS) and the European Union to Guatemala with the recognition that their work plays a vital role in safeguarding the integrity of these processes.”

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