On Monday, September 4, the first meeting between officials of the government of Alejandro Giammattei and President-elect Bernardo Arevalo was held at the Presidential Palace for the change of command scheduled for January 14, 2024.

The delegation entered Munchen Alley for a meeting between part of the elected government and the officials who were to hand over office.

The gates of the presidential palace were opened by security personnel to allow the presidential duo, Bernardo Arevalo and Semilla Movement’s Karin Herrera, to enter. They are accompanied by a part of their team who will support them in this process of mandate change.

The delegation also includes Luis Almagro, Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), who oversaw the first presidential transition meeting between the government of Alejandro Giammattei and his successor, Bernardo Arevalo de León.

Almagro, accompanied by representatives of the OAS, attended the Presidential Palace, where he witnessed the formal opening of the transfer of command that was to take place on January 14.

The closed-door meeting helped Giamattei and Arevalo agree on priorities for the transition process. Some officials of the outgoing government were also present in the meeting.

The appointment comes amid tensions over persecution against Arrivalo’s Semilla party, which recently denounced a “coup” plan to prevent him from taking office in January.