Guatemala’s president misses independence celebrations due to ‘severe flu’

Guatemala City, September 15 (EFE) – Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei will miss the Central American country’s independence celebrations this Friday because of the flu, official sources said.

The president did not attend the national celebrations of the 202nd anniversary of independence in central Guatemala City on Thursday or Friday.

The government, led by Guimaté, said through its communications channels that the 67-year-old retired doctor and surgeon was suffering from “severe influenza”.

Celebrations of Guatemala’s independence, promulgated on September 15, 1821, take place this Thursday and Friday in front of the National Palace of Culture, the headquarters of the government, with numerous military and civilian processions.

Defense Secretary Henry Reyes and Prime Minister Mario Bucaro attended the commemoration in Giammattei’s absence.

Guatemala’s celebration of independence comes amid political tensions in the country, with the country’s public ministry seeking to delist newly elected President Bernardo Arevalo de León’s Movement for Semira party.

As a result of these attempts, Arevalo de Leon this week suspended the government transition process he was undertaking with Giammattei, saying a “coup” against him was “in the making.”

It was because of the electoral situation Guatemala was going through that OAS Secretary-General Luis Almagro came to Guatemala this week to oversee the transition process, which was ultimately suspended.

Giammattei must leave his post on January 14 after four years of working with Vice President Guillermo Castillo, with whom he has been publicly in conflict since 2020 ·Guillermo Castillo is estranged.

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