Guatemala: Always at a Crossroads

Writing for WOLA, Adriana Beltran produced a report earlier this month on Guatemala at a Crossroads: Reinforce the Fight Against Corruption or Reinstate the Hidden Powers? In the report, Adriana takes stock of the progress and failures that occurred in (2015 and) 2016.

One year after Guatemala was shaken by massive public protests demanding an end to widespread impunity and corruption, the country embarked on an unprecedented process to carry out fundamental justice reforms. In October 2016, after months of regional discussions among a wide range of sectors, a draft constitutional reform bill was presented to the Guatemalan Congress for consideration.

The amendments aim to solidify the progress achieved thus far in the fight against impunity and create the conditions for the consolidation of the rule of law. Regrettably, securing passage of these necessary reforms has proven problematic. Despite the support of many within Guatemalan civil society, the Congress failed to gather the votes necessary to pass the reforms before the end of the regular session.

To move forward, the bill would have to be taken-up when the Congress reconvenes next year—under new leadership viewed by many as antagonistic to a reform agenda. Guatemala must now decide between deepening its efforts against impunity and corruption, or the reinstatement of control by the “Hidden Powers,” profit-orientated criminal groups with influence or entrenched in the country’s institutions.

Some called for cancelling the 2015 election so that less corrupt candidates could be found to occupy the presidency and congress. Instead, Guatemala went ahead with the elections, in the full knowledge that the fight against corruption in the next legislature would be an uphill one. And an uphill one it has been.

At some point we are going to have to retire "Guatemala at a Crossroads."

May 2015 Washington Center event on  "GUATEMALA AT A CROSSROADS" 

2012 Freedom House report on Guatemala for its Crossroads series

March 2013 Open Society post on  Guatemala at the Cross Roads in Search for Justice

December 2010 Wilson Center report on  Guatemala’s Crossroads: Democratization of Violence and Second Chances 

 June 2009 House Committee on Foreign Affairs - Guatemala at a Crossroads

April 2003 Action Institute report on Guatemala at the Crossroads: The Future of Free Market Reforms

I wrote the Guatemala chapter for the ninth edition of Latin American Politics and Development that will come out next year. I am glad that I didn't choose Guatemala at a Crossroads. Instead I was feeling optimistic and went with "Guatemala: Breaking Free from the Past?”