Álvaro Colom , President of Guatemala. As part of a state of emergency declared on Thursday when the first case of H1N1 flu virus was confirmed in Guatemala, President Álvaro Colom proposed the suspension of rights guaranteed by the constitution of that country. The state of emergency, which must be ratified or rejected by the Congress of Guatemala by Wednesday, would limit the effect of the articles of the Constitution of Guatemala which provide for the liberties of expression and movement. Representatives of opposition parties have criticized the measure, asking whether it is necessary to impose limits on freedom of expression in the country, where the third case of H1N1 was confirmed yesterday. Rosa María de Frade of Bancada Guatemala said, Roxana Baldetti of Partido Patriota compared President Colom's plan with the calamitous 1993 decision of former President Jorge Serrano Elías to suspend the constitution in the name of fighting corruption. Bereft of support, President Serrano Elías resigned a week later, taking up exile in Panama.
 , President of Guatemala. As part of a declared on Thursday when the first case of H1N1 flu virus was confirmed in Guatemala, President proposed the suspension of rights guaranteed by the constitution of that country. The state of emergency, which must be ratified or rejected by the by Wednesday, would limit the effect of the articles of the Constitution of Guatemala which provide for the liberties of expression and movement. Representatives of have criticized the measure, asking whether it is necessary to impose limits on freedom of expression in the country, where the third case of H1N1 was confirmed yesterday. Rosa María de Frade of Bancada Guatemala said, Roxana Baldetti of compared President Colom's plan with the calamitous 1993 decision of former President to suspend the constitution in the name of fighting corruption. Bereft of support, President Serrano Elías resigned a week later, taking up exile in Panama.
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Álvaro Colom
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state of emergency
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Álvaro Colom
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Congress of Guatemala
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Partido Patriota
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Jorge Serrano Elías