GUATEMALA CITY – Guatemala’s vice-president yesterday said he has asked President Alejandro Giammattei to resign with him “for the good of the country”, following the passage of a Budget that has sparked outrage in the impoverished Central American nation.
“For the good of the country, I asked him that we present our resignations together,” said Guillermo Castillo in a message posted on social media.
He also reportedly told the president that “things are not right”, and admitted to tensions between himself and the head of state.
Giammattei, a 64-year-old doctor, swept to power in January promising to clean up corruption and fight organised crime.
But, his presidency has been dominated by controversy over his handling of the coronavirus, particularly deficiencies in the country’s hospitals.
He has publicly sparred with his vice-president, who in May revealed that the two had privately clashed over the best response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Congress, dominated by conservative pro-government parties, this week approved an almost US$13 billion (RM53.2 billion) Budget, the largest in the country’s history.
Most of the funds will go to infrastructure tied to big business, sparking outrage in a nation where poverty is widespread and half of children under 5 years old are malnourished.
Analysts have warned that a third of the Budget will need to be financed by debt.
Congress has also approved US$3.8 billion to fight the pandemic, but less than 15% of the funds have been invested.
Multiple activist groups are set to convene a protest today to demand the president’s resignation. – AFP, November 21, 2020
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