WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senators Peter Welch (D-VT) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) met this week with Bernardo Arévalo, President-elect of Guatemala. They released the following statement: 

“This week we welcomed President-elect Arévalo to Capitol Hill to begin a dialogue on his forthcoming agenda, which includes the goals of reducing poverty and hunger, ending corruption, and increasing opportunities for the Guatemalan people.

“We made it clear to President-elect Arévalo that the United States’ support for the democratic will of the Guatemalan people remains steadfast and reaffirmed that the U.S. stands with Arévalo and the Guatemalan people seeking a peaceful, orderly transfer of power. Attempts to delegitimize the results of the country’s elections are a threat to Guatemalan democracy and must not be allowed to succeed. We applaud the Biden Administration’s efforts to support Guatemalan democracy and hold corrupt actors accountable.”

Senator Welch released a statement in August following Guatemala’s runoff elections, which can be read here. He has long called for an end to corruption and impunity in Guatemala.  

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