Guatemala congress set alight in protest against budget
HUNDREDS of protesters partially burned Guatemala’s congress building as they demanded the resignation of Alejandro Giammattei, the president, following the passage of a budget that has sparked outrage in the impoverished Central American nation.
The flames could be seen from the street and a spokesman for the Red Cross said the group had treated several people for smoke inhalation.
A separate, peaceful protest was staged in front of the old government palace in the historic centre of Guatemala City, not far from congress, on Saturday. The legislature, dominated by conservative, pro-government parties, approved a budget of almost $13 billion (£9.8 billion), the largest in the country’s history, on Wednesday.
Most of the money will go on infrastructure tied to big business, sparking outrage in a country where poverty is widespread and half of children under five are malnourished. Analysts warned that a third of the budget would need to be financed by debt.
Congress has also approved $3.8 billion to fight the coronavirus pandemic, but less than 15 per cent of those funds have been i nvested. Carrying the national flag and banners that read “No more corruption”, “Giammattei out” and “They messed with the wrong generation”, the protesters filled the central square in front of the old palace.
Police fired teargas while protesters, many wearing face coverings, hurled rocks at officers. One man was seen being carried away on a stretcher, blood streaming from his head.
Police arrested more than 20 people and almost 50 were taken to hospital.
Mr Giammattei denounced the attack on congress and vowed legal repercussions for anyone involved. “Whoever is proven to have participated in these criminal acts will fall under the full weight of the law,” he wrote on Twitter.