Violent protests rocked Guatemala City last night (November 21) amid growing anger over president Alejandro Giammattei and the legislature for approving budget cuts.

Earlier in the day, demonstrators broke into Guatemala’s Congress and burned part of the building.

Protesters claim the budget was negotiated and passed by legislators in secret while the country was distracted by the aftermath of back-to-back hurricanes and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Violent protests and confrontations between protesters and police erupted in Guatemala, today Saturday November 21st. 2020. The incidents came as about 7,000 people were protesting in front of the National Palace and Congress in Guatemala against corruption and the approval of the national budget, which protesters say was negotiated and passed by legislators in secret while the Central American country was distracted by the fallout of back-to-back hurricanes and the COVID-19 pandemic. Protesters hurled stones, bottles, stones and molotov cocktails against police, that answered by firing tear gas and chasing after them.