Kaine, Durbin, Cardin, Merkley, Welch Statement on Democratic Backsliding in Guatemala

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, as well as Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Senators Ben Cardin (D-MD), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and Peter Welch (D-VT), released the following statement after a Guatemalan court disqualified one of the political parties:

“We are deeply disturbed by the Guatemalan government’s unprecedented interference against the electoral process following the country’s June 25 elections. These actions violate Guatemalan law. The government’s raid on the electoral authority after election results were certified is an unacceptable attack on electoral democracy. We call on the Guatemalan government to respect the will of the voters, cease all interference, and ensure the integrity of the August 20 runoff elections.”

###