Chaos in Guatemala Congress Delays Swearing-In of New President

King of Spain, foreign presidents kept waiting amid dispute
Supporters of Arevalo broke through line of riot police

Supporters of Guatemala's President-elect Bernardo Arevalo clash with the police during a demonstration outside the Congress to protest against the suspension of the inauguration of the new legislature made by the Congress in Guatemala City on Jan. 14. — Supporters of Guatemala's President-elect Bernardo Arevalo clash with the police during a demonstration outside the Congress to protest against the suspension of the inauguration of the new legislature made by the Congress in Guatemala City on Jan. 14.
Photographer: Martin Bernetti/AFP/Getty Images

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By Michael D McDonald

January 14, 2024 at 10:41 PM UTC

Updated on

January 15, 2024 at 6:27 AM UTC

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Anti-corruption campaigner Bernardo Arevalo was sworn in as president of Guatemala more than ten hours late after his inauguration was held up by furious disputes in congress.

The King of Spain and the presidents of Chile and Colombia were among the foreign leaders kept waiting on Sunday while lawmakers screamed abuse at each other. In downtown Guatemala City, enraged Arevalo supporters stormed through a line of riot police near congress, and demanded that legislators allow the ceremony to go ahead.