Government crisis escalates in Guatemala

Moises Castillo AP Photo

After failing to convince the UN Secretary General to replace CICIG Commissioner Ivan Velasquez, Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales declared the commissioner persona non grata and ordered him to leave the country immediately. 

Velasquez heads the International Commission Against Impunity in Guatemala's (CICIG) investigations into a corruption scheme involving Morales' brother and nephew and campaign finance irregularities involving Morales and his FCN's 2015 president campaign. 

I spoke with the Associated Press earlier today. You can read my thoughts on today's developments here. The United States and the rest of the international community need to keep a close eye on the events unfolding in Guatemala. There is grave concern that, unlike 2015's ouster of Otto Perez Molina, President Morales and his allies will not go quietly. They must deliver a strong message to President Morales that he will be held accountable for any repression of nonviolent protesters.