News Brief 093-15 SOCIAL POLITICAL POSITIONING OF THE POPULAR ASSAMBLY FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF GUATEMALA, July 25, 2015

News Brief 093-15

SOCIAL POLITICAL POSITIONING OF THE POPULAR ASSAMBLY FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF GUATEMALA, July 25, 2015

"The uncovering of corruption and impunity in government and in the state as a whole generated a crisis of government and governance, which shows at the same time the historic economic, political and social crisis of the system, therefore the deep crisis of the state ... In particular, the present political regime does not allow to solve the serious national problems rooted in the historical exclusion, poverty, exploitation and ill-gotten gains.”

"In this time of deep political crisis for the state, it is clear that the Constitution of the Republic shows that it is limited and outdated ... ... prevents the necessary reforms and deny the rights of the working class, indigenous peoples, women, youth, children and migrants ... The State and those in power do not respond to the demands, needs, rights and citizens proposals. On the contrary, they use procrastination, deception, disinformation and repression to thwart the realization of changes and reforms. Such is the case of the amendments to the Electoral and Political Parties Law (LEPP) which Congress pretends to approve... The deputies and political parties in Congress, as those who hold the real power in the country (CACIF and the United States) ... they are opting for reforms to the LEPP without changing the political regime in essence or allowed it to reproduce and thereby maintaining the control that historically they have exercised... We oppose any form of coup d'état that will allow the continuation of the corrupt regime, oligarchical and imperial. We are supporters, though, of a transitional government of social consensus, leading to the convening of a National Constituent Assembly to draft a new constitution to change the political regime in its foundations ... We have decided to challenge ethically and politically the current regime, the electoral and political party system. We hold these elections are illegal and illegitimate, so we will not play this electoral farce. In this context, we call on candidates and political parties from the left to reconsider their turnout in a flawed, illegal and illegitimate process. "

Guatemala and its Diaspora, August 6, 2015, Department of Political Affairs RPDG