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Guatemala

Monthly Event Reports

February 2023 | Electoral court rejects candidacy of indigenous leader

The Electoral Tribunal rejected the candidacy of Thelma Cabrera, an Indigenous woman and leader, on the grounds that her running mate failed to produce proof that no corruption cases were open against him. Critics have underlined that other politicians have been allowed to register their candidacies even with open cases against them and have argued that Cabrera has been subject to discriminatory treatment. Supporters blocked national highways to protest the rejection of Cabrera’s candidacy and called upon the Constitutional Court to resolve an appeal to the Tribunal’s ruling. Cabrera had previously participated in the 2019 elections and obtained 10 per cent of the votes.  Human Rights Watch and the Washington Office on Latin America have highlighted the need for electoral authorities to apply equal standards to all candidacies and ensure a level playing field for all political hopefuls. In addition to Cabrera, they brought attention to the rejection of the candidacy of a right-wing politician, expressing concern about apparent efforts to undermine candidates from the opposition.

December 2022 | Former President found guilty and sentenced in corruption scandal

Former president of Guatemala, Otto Perez Molina, was found guilty of racketeering and fraud regarding the “La Línea” corruption scandal involving the country’s customs system. The accusations against him detailed that bribes were received in exchange for waiving import duties for certain businesses during his term in office (2012-2015). His vice president, Roxana Baldetti, was also convicted. The former president has stated he will appeal the sentence of 16 years of imprisonment. Findings on the “La Línea” scandal were part of a wider inquiry into corruption in government structures that was initially supported by a United Nations anti-corruption commission (Comisión Internacional contra la Impunidad en Guatemala, CICIG), before its mandate was ended by former president Jimmy Morales in 2019, amid investigations into his own administration.

August 2022 | Renowned journalist arrested

Renowned journalist José Rubén Zamora, founder of El Periodico newspaper and an outspoken critic of government, has been arrested for money laundering and blackmail. The journalist and his family argue the charges are part of a retaliation against him for his criticism of President Alejandro Giammattei, and his arrest occurs in a context of repression of dissent, including harassment of journalists and public officials with opposing views. The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights has expressed concern for these events, including attacks against freedom of expression online, and has called upon the government to ensure that freedom of expression can be exercised without undue restrictions. United Nations Secretary General, António Guterres, has expressed concern for the wellbeing of Zamora.

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GSoD Indices Data 2013-2022

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Basic Information

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Population Tooltip
17 109 750
System of government
Presidential system
Head of government
President Alejandro Giammattei (since 2020)
Head of government party
Vamos
Electoral system for lower or single chamber
List Proportional Representation
Women in lower or single chamber
19.4%
Women in upper chamber
Not applicable
Last legislative election
2019
Effective number of political parties Tooltip
14.89
Head of state
President Alejandro Giammattei
Selection process for head of state
Direct election (two-round majority)
Latest Universal Periodic Review (UPR) date
08/11/2017
Latest Universal Periodic Review (UPR) percentage of recommendations supported
73.17%
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Human Rights Treaties

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State Party State party
Signatory Signatory
No Action No action
United Nations Human Right Treaties
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
State Party
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
State Party
International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination
State Party
Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women
State Party
Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment
State Party
Convention on the Rights of the Child
State Party
International Convention on Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families
State Party
International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance 
Signatory
International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
State Party
International Labour Organisation Treaties
Forced Labour Convention
State Party
Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention
State Party
Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention
State Party
Equal Remuneration Convention
State Party
Abolition of Forced Labour Convention
State Party
Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention
State Party
Convention concerning Minimum Age for Admission to Employment
State Party
Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention
State Party
Regional Treaties
American Convention on Human Rights
State Party
Additional Protocol to the American Convention on Human Rights in the Area of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
State Party
in
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Attributes Over Time

Representative government neutral Representation
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Representative government neutral Rights
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Representative government neutral Participation
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Representative government neutral Rule of law
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GSoD Indices

Factors of Democracy
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