Rule of Law in Guatemala
Guatemala has a checkered past with respect to democracy. High level-corruption has remained rampant. Judicial and prosecutorial independence have remained under attack, especially after the 2019 closure of the United Nations-backed International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG), which exposed numerous corruption schemes. Under President Alejandro Giammattei, the justice system was weaponized to target actors who have fought against corruption and human rights abuses. Journalists and civil society members continued to face threats and harassment, forcing many of them to live in exile. Following elections in 2023, the government used legal maneuvers to prevent President-elect Bernardo Arevalo from taking office.
Electoral Integrity: Guatemala
Elections in Guatemala are considered by many to be “free but unfair.” In 2023, despite the lack of a level playing field, anti-corruption campaigner Bernado Arévalo and his party, Semilla, unexpectedly won the general elections in Guatemala. Since that time, however, legal maneuvers by the incumbent administration, including measures seeking to suspend the party, have appeared to be directed at preventing him and his party from taking office. These maneuvers have drawn widespread international criticism, including from the Organization of American States and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.