GUATEMALA CITY, (Reuters) – Guatemala’s President Otto Perez announced a major cabinet reshuffle yesterday, firing several ministers after corruption scandals battered his government, fueling calls for him to step down.
Perez told a news conference he had dismissed the interior, energy and environment ministers as well as the country’s intelligence chief and other senior officials following a string of arrests and recent mass protests in Guatemala City.
The retired army general, who has not himself been accused of corruption, said the government would work with investigators to root out abuses by public officials. “There is an openness to investigate in any place, in any ministry,” Perez told reporters.
Echoing steps by Chilean President Michelle Bachelet earlier in May, Perez said he had told his ministers two weeks ago he was considering a complete reshuffle of the cabinet.
The corruption scandals have buffeted Perez’s conservative Patriot Party ahead of presidential elections in September. A senior government official in Guatemala, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Perez had asked all the cabinet ministers linked to allegations of corruption to step down so the president could finish his four-year term as planned.
Still, Andres Toledo, a 31-year-old businessman in Guatemala City, said it would not be an easy few months for Perez.
“These steps come very late and just try to gloss over a more serious problem that’s been there since the start of the government,” he said. “They aren’t going to have the desired result, the people’s clamour won’t be silenced.”
