President Alejandro Giammattei Guatemala’s president has said he will block US abortion provider Planned Parenthood from setting up an office in the country.
This week he denounced the group, saying it promoted abortion. “I am a faithful defender of life and I am emphatic in indicating that in my government I will not endorse the creation, registration or start-up of any organisation that goes against life,” said President Alejandro Giammattei on Twitter.
“I recognise life from its conception and therefore in my government I will not tolerate any movement that violates what is provided in our political constitution,” he said.
His vice president, Guillermo Castillo, also confirmed to Prensa Libre his support for the President’s position. He said: “Article 3 of the political constitution of the republic protects the most fundamental of human rights: life. I will always honour the defence of our Constitution, the laws and the commitment to protect the most innocent and vulnerable.”
The president issued the declaration hours after the interior ministry published the agreement authorising Planned Parenthood Global Guatemala LLC “to establish a branch in the country”.
A spokesman for the presidency later confirmed that Giammattei will “repeal” the agreement, without explaining why the document was promulgated officially in the first place, a move that sparked outcry from conservative and religious groups.
The interior ministry has not commented on its decision give the green light to Planned Parenthood, a US organisation that provides family planning care, including access to safe abortion.
Abortion in Guatemala is punishable by fines and jail sentences up to three years, and is only authorised if the life of the mother is in danger.
Guatemala is a pro-life country and only allows abortion to save a woman’s life.
US-based Planned Parenthood Global, which was responsible for performing 345,672 abortions in 2019, may have been temporarily blocked from pushing abortion in Guatemala, but continues to attempt to bring abortion around the world.