Guatemala: protesters set Congress on fire and ex …

Hundreds of Guatemalans torched the headquarters of Congress last night during a demonstration calling for the resignation of the country’s president, Alejandro Giammattei, following legislative approval of the 2021 budget.

“We plan to reduce operating expenses, focusing these resources on the country’s priorities. In addition, to reduce the budget deficit and therefore reduce debt “, Giammatei had said on his Twitter account.

The demonstrators, mostly hooded, they broke the front door of the Parliament and also the windows, throwing torches inside, without the presence of deputies inside the facilities. The flames of the legislative building were visible from the street and the Red Cross treated several people for drunkenness, Andrés Lemus, a spokesperson for the organization, told reporters.

“I repeat that you have the right to demonstrate in accordance with the law. But no more we can allow it to vandalize with public or private property. Anyone who has proof of their participation in these criminal acts will fall under the weight of the law, ”he warned. President Giammatei on his social networks.

Several offices were set on fire by Protesters had previously been evicted by security forces and firefighters using tear gas, forcing them to disperse and evacuate the street. The National Civil Police have captured more than twenty people and nearly fifty have been hospitalized with injuries, one of them in serious condition.

Peaceful demonstrations

At the same time, as hundreds of demonstrators took control of Congress, thousands of other Guatemalans demonstrated peacefully against Giammattei just one kilometer outside the National Palace of Culture (seat of government).

Carrying the country’s blue and white flags and banners with slogans such as “No more corruption”, “Giammattei out” and “They screwed up the bad generation”, the protesters filled the central square in front of the former government palace. from the capital.

Request for resignation

The Vice-President of Guatemala, Guillermo Castillo, asked the president Alejandro Giammattei to resign together. “For the good of the country, I asked you to submit your resignation together”Castillo said in a message to the nation via social networks and sent to reporters from the WhatsApp group of the vice presidency.

Congress, mostly made up of the ruling party and allied parties, this week approved a budget of nearly $ 12.8 billion, 25% larger than this year.

Most of the funds are directed to infrastructure with the private sector and do not provide for increases in health or education items, or those intended to fight poverty and child malnutrition.

59.3% of Guatemala’s population of nearly 17 million lives in poverty, and child malnutrition affects nearly 50% of children under five. In addition, several economic entities and analysts warn that there is a risk that a third of the budget will be financed by debt.

Likewise, Congress had approved loans of more than $ 3.8 billion to deal with the pandemic, although only less than 15% of those resources have been granted.