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Culture · Latin America

Por qué Arévalo no debería defender a Gerardo Aguirre

Why Arévalo should not defend Gerardo Aguirre

C112 minTopic overview

Original article date: September 7, 2026 · Guide updated: September 9, 2026 · Source: Plaza Pública

Before you open the article

This preparation gives you the story context, essential vocabulary, useful expressions and reading questions. Study it first, then open the original news article, which is written in Spanish.

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What this article is about

The publisher’s available summary presents a Plaza Pública opinion piece arguing that President Bernardo Arévalo should not defend Gerardo Aguirre. It says renewed public and media scrutiny followed a recent scandal and points to controversies involving Aguirre in Guatemala’s federated sports institutions since at least 2013.

Background you need

Opinion journalism differs from straight news because it advances an argument and selects evidence to support a position. This preparation stays close to the publisher’s available summary excerpt and treats the article’s judgments as the author's position rather than as neutral factual conclusions.

Editorial illustration for Arévalo no debe defender a Gerardo Aguirre
Editorial illustration · Spanish News for Learners

Key vocabulary

Essential vocabulary

The example sentences below were written for language practice; they are not quotations from the source.

Open the Spanish article ↗
defenderto defend

To publicly support or justify someone.

El título sostiene que Arévalo no debe defender a Aguirre.

The headline argues that Arévalo should not defend Aguirre.

el escándaloscandal

An event causing public outrage or controversy.

El texto menciona un escándalo público y mediático.

The text mentions a public and media scandal.

el escrutinio públicopublic scrutiny

Close public examination of a person or institution.

El caso volvió a estar bajo escrutinio público.

The case came under public scrutiny again.

la indignación ciudadanapublic outrage

Strong anger among members of the public.

La controversia generó indignación ciudadana.

The controversy generated public outrage.

fijarse ento focus on / notice

To direct attention toward someone or something.

La atención pública volvió a fijarse en Aguirre.

Public attention focused on Aguirre again.

figurar ento appear in / feature in

To be mentioned or involved in a record or series of events.

El artículo afirma que Aguirre ha figurado en varias controversias.

The article says Aguirre has featured in several controversies.

la controversiacontroversy

A public disagreement or dispute.

El dirigente ha estado vinculado a controversias.

The official has been linked to controversies.

el deporte federadofederated sport

Sport organized through official federations.

El texto se refiere a entidades del deporte federado.

The text refers to federated-sport institutions.

protagonizarto be at the center of

To play the central role in an event, often a controversy.

Tuvo que protagonizar un escándalo para volver al centro de la atención.

He had to be at the center of a scandal to return to public attention.

mediáticomedia-related / high-profile

Connected with or strongly covered by the media.

El episodio tuvo un fuerte componente mediático.

The episode had a strong media dimension.

Useful expressions

Expressions

volver a fijarse en— to focus attention on again

El escrutinio público volvió a fijarse en el dirigente.

por lo menos desde— at least since

El autor sitúa las controversias por lo menos desde 2013.

protagonizar un escándalo— to be at the center of a scandal

El texto afirma que Aguirre protagonizó un escándalo público.

Language focus

Language focus

Opinion with deber / no deber

Opinion headlines often use “deber” to make a normative recommendation.

Arévalo no debe defender a Gerardo Aguirre.

Present perfect for a continuing record

The present perfect connects earlier controversies with the present debate.

Ha figurado en escándalos y controversias desde hace años.

Causal structure with para que

“Para que” plus subjunctive can express the consequence or purpose needed for another event to occur.

Tuvo que ocurrir un escándalo para que la atención volviera al caso.

Before you read

Questions to keep in mind

  1. What position does the headline take?
  2. Why should you read an opinion article differently from a straight news report?
  3. What prior controversies does the publisher’s available summary say are relevant?

Continue with the original

Now read the news in Spanish

You have prepared the main context and language. The button opens the publisher’s original Spanish-language article in a new tab.

Open the original article in Spanish →

After reading

Reflect on what you read

  1. What evidence does the author use to support the argument?
  2. Which statements are factual claims and which are value judgments?
  3. Does the article present counterarguments or alternative interpretations?

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