Guatemala's president names Gabriel Estuardo Garcia as new attorney general

Guatemala's President Bernardo Arevalo has named Gabriel Estuardo Garcia Luna, a former judge and university professor, as the Central American nation's new attorney general, Arevalo said in an address to the nation on Tuesday.



Last month, Guatemala's Constitutional Court froze the process and ordered a review of the finalists after a shortlist drew attention when it left off current Attorney General Consuelo Porras.



A new list was later voted on by a committee of jurists and presented to Arevalo, allowing him to proceed with selecting a candidate.



Porras, a leading adversary of Arevalo, has been sanctioned by the U.S., Canada, the European Union and others for alleged corruption, persecution of human rights advocates and efforts to undermine Arevalo's 2023 election. Porras has denied accusations against her.



"This is a time to learn from our history. Justice has all too often been a tool of revenge. It is time to leave that past behind," Arevalo said, hailing a "new chapter" and wishing Garcia clarity and resolve as he takes up the post.