The party’s presidential candidate republican union, Julius Talamonti, provided details regarding his government plan. In addition, he referred to different issues on the national situation, including corruption and security.
During an interview on the Hora 15 program of Emisoras Unidas, the candidate pointed out that security is precisely the main point that is addressed in the proposal that this political group raises to administer the country.
“We cannot continue as we are, because as we are we are not working. There is total restlessness and insecurity. The first thing we have to do is work on security,” he said.
Giulio Talamonti, presidential candidate of the Unión Republicana party: “We want to start the change and combat this high level of impunity and corruption in the State. That is up to the Guatemalans and we have to ensure it”
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– United Stations (@United Stations) April 14, 2023
In this context, he considered that it would be appropriate to take the Army out into the streets and have combined patrols with the National Civil Police, a modality that would be applied for as long as necessary.
He indicated that this has been done before, but if it hasn’t worked as it should, he can’t personally vouch for it.
He stressed that work will be done to strengthen the military institution which, he assured, is currently one of the most trusted in the country.
He mentioned that there must be a strategy, which would have to be a State policy on security matters.
“Here we have taken actions according to each one that has occurred to them, but there has not been a State policy that leads us with the corresponding transversal axes and all the possible roads and paths, not only today, nor the other month, but for always,” he said.
Giulio Talamonti, presidential candidate of the Republican Union party: “We cannot continue as we are, because we are not working. There is total restlessness and insecurity. The first thing we have to do is work on security” pic.twitter.com/3DTAQCrU9B
– United Stations (@United Stations) April 14, 2023
Strengthening the Penitentiary System, another focal point, according to Talamonti
Talamonti recalled that he was director of the Penitentiary System and shared the adversities that this institution registers, starting with the lack of professional training and low salaries.
According to what he said, as head of the entity he was assigned a nominal salary of Q7 thousand, while the guards were paid Q2 thousand 900 with discounts.
In his opinion, an agent should earn between Q6 thousand or Q7 thousand upon graduation, but he stressed that they must be well trained, equipped and professional, not trained in six months.
The presidential candidate indicated that a series of changes must be made, not only in terms of human resources, but also in infrastructure, budget and other aspects, since, in his opinion, currently the Penitentiary System “is a school of corruption in the most corrupt institution of the State”.
The interviewee said that when he arrived at that entity, in 2009, the strongest slogan he carried was zero tolerance for corruption, for which he fired 76 people involved in irregularities who were also followed up with prison and State intelligence. .
Giulio Talamonti: “The State must ensure life and security. Of course there is a process to be able to apprehend people, but we are not going to wait for that process to end if there is someone who is extorting and killing. There are mechanisms ” pic.twitter.com/hGdOkbUMci
– United Stations (@United Stations) April 14, 2023
In addition, he said that the overcrowding currently observed in detention centers, where there are some 26,000 people in areas created for 7,000 inmates, generates not only overcrowding, but also “high corruption and having the innate cream of university of crime in Guatemala.
The interviewee also said that the penitentiary institution is the last link in the chain of justice, since the person is sentenced and arrives there.
“But it is the first link in the security chain, and in all these years we have not understood that investing in truly maximum security prisons is just that, working on security,” he stated.
Finally, the presidential candidate pointed out that the Republican Union is made up of people, mostly young people, who are participating politically for the first time. A team, according to him, that is willing to work on this and other issues for the benefit of the country.
To this end, he stressed the importance of ending what he described as “cronyism and cronyism” in the State to focus on adding officials who meet knowledge and experience requirements.