A New Spring
On September of 2015, after 4 months of accusations from the Attorney General’s office and protests from Guatemalan citizens, president Otto Pérez Molina announced his resignation.
He faced allegations of leading a structure of customs fraud, along with his vice-president Roxana Baldetti, and other members of the government.
On the 27th of August, a general strike was convened to demand the resignation of president Pérez Molina. Many segments of the population got involved, including private companies, student organizations and indigenous leaders, who traveled from their home towns early in the morning or even the night before, and slept around Guatemala city’s central square.
When the news broke that president Pérez Molina had resigned on the 2nd of September 2015, a group of citizens gathered in the city square after work to celebrate the perceived victory against corruption.
The day after his resignation, president Otto Pérez Molina appeared for the first time before judge Miguel Ángel Gálvez for a hearing.
The political turmoil that involved both the president and vice-president, caused an unusual election: The Congress was appointed to elect Pérez Molina’s successor until the electoral authority could prepare general elections.
