Guatemala president softens stand on expelling graft prober
GUATEMALA CITY — President Jimmy Morales appeared to soften his stand Monday in his effort to oust the U.N. anti-corruption commissioner in Guatemala, a move that left him battered him with criticism at home and abroad.
Hours after he got support from his own Cabinet on the expulsion order, Morales indicated a willingness to abide by court decisions on his action, which had touched off anger and raised threats to the future of his administration.
“People of Guatemala, as president of the republic I have and will respect the decisions of the other branches of government. The rule of law should always prevail,” he wrote in his Facebook account.
One day earlier Morales announced he was expelling Ivan Velasquez, but his order was quickly blocked by Guatemala’s highest court and international disapproval poured in. One Cabinet minister quit in protest and the president fired the foreign minister for refusing to expel Velasquez.