Bernardo Arévalo faces huge challenges after finally being sworn in as Guatemala's president

Guatemala’s new president has huge challenges to address now that he's finally been sworn into office

GUATEMALA CITY -- Guatemala's new president, Bernardo Arévalo, was left with huge challenges Monday after he was finally sworn into office, including his party's lack of recognition in a Congress where he would not have a majority anyway.

After months of efforts to derail his inauguration, old guard legislators delayed Arévalo's swearing-in by 10 hours on Sunday. The foot-dragging lasted right up to the ceremony that took place just after midnight.

Arévalo won an August election by a comfortable margin, but nothing has been straightforward since. He has said that he will request the resignation of Attorney General Consuelo Porras, who oversaw months of legal maneuvers to prevent his presidency, but it is unclear if he can get rid of her.

In his inauguration speech, Arévalo quickly acknowledged the country’s large Indigenous population, citing “historic debts ... that we must resolve.” About 40% of Guatemalans belong to one of about two dozen Indigenous groups, and they are generally poorer and have less access to services of all kinds.

“There cannot be democracy without social justice, and social justice cannot prevail without democracy,” Arévalo said in his first speech as president, referring to the young and Indigenous Guatemalans.