Speeches and Statements

Statement by the U.S. Embassy Regarding the Election Holiday Law (Decree 51-2003)

Guatemala, November 4, 2003

The U.S. Embassy wishes to affirm publicly our view which we have been expressing privately to the Government since Saturday.

A fundamental change in the rules under which elections are being carried out so close to election day can only have the effect of undermining public confidence.

We do not think a unilateral reinterpretation of the proposed law would be sufficient to restore public confidence.

Therefore we associate ourselves with those who have called on the President to veto this legislation.

We believe such a veto imposes a moral obligation on all employers to take extraordinary steps to ensure all employees are able to exercise their right to vote.

We call on all national and international observer missions to verify that there has been no impediment to the full exercise of the right to vote. ---