Guatemala’s superior court blocked the candidacy of another presidential candidate on Friday, this time ending poll leader Carlos Pineda’s campaign for alleged electoral law violations.
The Constitutional Court rejected Pineda’s appeal after electoral authorities ruled him ineligible just a month before the first round of voting on June 25.
“The Constitutional Court ended the democracy of this country,” Pineda told the AP in a telephone interview.
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“State co-option prevailed, the reins of corruption and dictatorship prevailed,” said Pineda. “It’s amazing. I feel like I’m dead.”
Pineda said his final hope rests with the people of Guatemala, that the majority vote no and that new elections are held.
Guatemala’s Constitutional Court blocked the presidential candidacy of independent candidate Carlos Pineda. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)
Pineda is the third presidential candidate deemed ineligible to run. The court rejected candidate Roberto Arzú’s final appeals on Thursday, and had already ruled against Thelma Cabrera because of a paperwork problem with her running mate.
A fourth candidate, Edmond Mulet, also faces the possibility of exclusion, as he awaits a decision by the Justice on his candidacy. The Attorney General’s Office called for his investigation for allegedly starting his campaign too early by making comments against the harassment of journalists.
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Some observers accused Guatemalan electoral authorities of using the court system to reduce the number of candidates acceptable to the system.
The European Union, the United States and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights have all expressed concern about the exclusion of candidates.
Pineda, a conservative populist leading a campaign that caught fire on social media, emerged as the surprise leader in polls earlier this month.
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Officials said there were problems with the way his party, Prosperidad Ciudadana, selected the candidate that overturned his candidacy.
