Guatemala's Runoff Election Plunged into Chaos as Party Suspension Sparks Election Interference Fears

Guatemala's electoral court has confirmed the results of the first round of the presidential elections, setting the stage for a runoff between former first lady Sandra Torres and social democratic candidate Bernardo Arevalo.

However, just minutes before the court's announcement, the Attorney General's Office suspended the legal status of Arevalo's party, Semilla, due to irregularities in the signatures gathered for the party's formation.

The suspension has raised concerns about election interference and has led to uncertainty surrounding the runoff vote. The constitutional court had previously ordered a review of the election results after doubts were raised about the unexpected second-place finish of Semilla. The runoff election is scheduled to take place on August 20.