Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo denounced on Sunday what he described as an ongoing coup attempt, allegedly led by Attorney General Consuelo Porras and Judge Fredy Orellana.

He accused both of forming a “criminal alliance” aimed at “plunging Guatemala into authoritarianism, corruption, and impunity.” 

In a national address, Arévalo said that Judge Orellana “distorts the law to serve Consuelo Porras,” attempting to pressure the Supreme Electoral Tribunal into manipulating the results of the 2023 elections.

According to Arévalo, the plot seeks to justify the unconstitutional removal of a mayor, 23 elected Semilla Party lawmakers, the vice president, and himself. 

“The goal of these coup plotters is to perpetuate impunity for those who steal public funds, for drug traffickers, and for their political allies,” the president said. He added that the conspirators have created “a climate of terror” through illegitimate judicial actions that have imprisoned honest citizens, including Indigenous leaders, lawyers, and journalists who defended democracy. 

Arévalo warned that the judicial offensive aims to “prevent the restoration of democratic institutions” and to influence the selection of judicial authorities in 2026, as well as the 2027 general elections. 

In response, the president announced he had requested an extraordinary session of the Organization of American States (OAS) Permanent Council, invoking the Inter-American Democratic Charter to denounce “the grave threats to our Constitution and democracy.” 

Arévalo also called for the immediate dismissal of Judge Fredy Orellana and urged the Constitutional Court to uphold the 2023 election results. “This is a historic moment,” he declared. “What is at stake is not a government or a party, but the very foundation of democracy and the will of the people.”