The Attorney General of the Republic of Guatemala and Chief of the Public Ministry, María Consuelo Porras Argueta, received the visit from the Secretary-General of the Organization of American States (OAS), Luis Almagro.

During the meeting, Mr. Almagro along with an OAS delegation were able to verify from the official source, the information related to the investigative proceedings carried out to date by the Public Ministry in relation to the various crime victims` complaints, filed before the institution.

Mrs. Porras Argueta also reiterated, how the Public Ministry is a technical entity, not a political one, and its duty is framed within its Constitutional Mandate, which encloses operating criminal prosecution and conducting investigations for any offenses involving criminal action.

In addition, Mrs. Porras Argueta emphasized on the statement issued by the Ibero-American Association of Public Prosecutors #AIAMP, in which they highlight their concern about the constant acts of political pressure that affect Public Prosecutors` Offices and/or Ministries, Prosecutors` Offices and Attorney General’s Offices, by violating the autonomy and independence of these institutions.

The encounter was attended by the following Public Ministry officials: Mr. Angel Pineda, Secretary-General; Mr. Estuardo Avila, Anti-Corruption Secretary; Mr. Erick Schaeffer, First Secretary-General; Mr. Dimas Jimenez, Metropolitan Regional Prosecutor; Mr. Rafael Curruchiche, FECI Special Prosecutor; Ms. Lisbeth Perez, Electoral Crimes Special Prosecutor; Mr. Edwin Marroquin, Administrative Crimes Special Prosecutor and Mr. Juan Luis Pantaleon, Press and Information Chief Officer.

At the same time, the OAS delegation that was part of this session, was integrated by Gustavo Cinosi, Franchesca Sterling and Rodolfo Camarosano, Advisors to the Office of the Secretary-General; Isabel de Saint Malo, former Vice-President and former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Panama; Liliana Ayalde, former Deputy Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Department of State; and Diego Paz, Representative of the OAS office in Guatemala.

Throughout the briefing held, Mr. Rafael Curruchiche, FECI Special Prosecutor, addressed the OAS Secretary-General in relation to the specific progress accomplished to date by the institution surrounding the case “Movimiento Semilla Corruption».

Subsequently, Lisbeth Pérez, Electoral Crimes Special Prosecutor, emphasized on how during the 2023 electoral process more than one thousand complaints were received before the investigative entity. Simultaneously, she also referred to the immunity withdrawal petition processed enclosing the political party «Prosperidad Ciudadana».

Therefore, Mr. Edwin Marroquín, Administrative Crimes Special Prosecutor, took on the opportunity as well, to allude on the immunity withdrawal request filed against the Magistrates of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE).

Concluded the session, Mr. Angel Arnoldo Pineda Avila, Secretary-General of the Public Ministry, handed over to the Secretary-General of the Organization of American States (OAS), Luis Almagro, a document containing the issues addressed during his visit, for submission before the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States.