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"Jimmy Morales leaves a cursed inheritance in Guatemala" 3:30
(CNN Spanish) - Former Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales and former Vice President Jafeth Cabrera were sworn in as deputies to the Central American Parliament on Tuesday night, a source with knowledge of what is happening in Parlacen confirmed to CNN.
The session of the Plenary Assembly that would integrate Morales and his former vice president had to be moved from the usual headquarters in Guatemala City to a hotel because of the intense protests of Morales' opponents, who refused this integration that would grant him parliamentary immunity.
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File photo The then president of Guatemala Jimmy Morales (on the left) and his vice president Jafeth Cabrera, attend an anniversary ceremony at the Cadet School in San Juan Sacatepequez, 35 km from Guatemala City, on September 1, 2018. ( Credit: JOHAN ORDONEZ / AFP via Getty Images)
Morales, who had handed over the presidency of Guatemala to Alejandro Giammattei, is being investigated by the Public Prosecutor for alleged illegal financing of his election campaign and for his alleged responsibility for the death of more than 40 minors in a fire in a shelter administered by the State.
The former president has denied accusations of corruption and illegal electoral financing and says that they are a persecution. In the case of the fire, Morales has repeatedly defended the actions of the Government.
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According to the treaty establishing the agency, the presidents of each of the Central American republics may join the Parlacen at the end of their term. Central American deputies shall enjoy the same immunity and privileges as deputies before Congress in the State in which they were elected. In the other countries of Central America, deputies enjoy immunities and diplomatic privileges.
Upon arrival at the hotel where the Parlacen session was held, Morales and Cabrera were attacked with eggs and stones, so they had to leave the place.
After the security around the hotel was reinforced, Morales and Cabrera tried to enter the hotel a second time and, with the custody of police officers, finally managed to enter the place where they were sworn in around midnight.
At least five protesters were arrested by riot police, CNN police sources confirmed at the scene.
The Communication Secretariat of Giammattei, said in a statement that the actions of the police correspond to the outgoing Government, since the officials appointed by the Ministry of Interior have not assumed. In the statement they also said that "the corresponding authorities will investigate the case to determine the responsibilities of those who acted against protesters."
Jimmy Morales
