Guatemalan elites getting uncomfortable

CICIG and Guatemala's Public Ministry continue to try to clean up the country's political system. As we saw last week, abuse of power, nepotism and favoritism, and other forms of corruption cost lives. We've been reminded of that when public attention turns to the dire state of the country's public hospitals and, more recently, shelters to protect young men and women.

As of this week, authorities have begun legal proceedings against over 40 current and former members of congress on charges ranging from abuse of authority and false jobs to money laundering and corruption. At least nine have been indicted for crimes committed during the internal conflict.

It's no surprise, then, that pressure is being ratcheted-up against CICIG from within the country. President Jimmy Morales has had to publicly deny that he is considering replacing CICIG Commissioner Ivan Velasquez. However, Morales went out of his way to remind everyone that it is his right to ask for Velasquez's replacement or to not have his or CICIG's mandate renewed.

Senator Patrick Leahy warned that Guatemala would risk continued US support if Morales moved to replace Velasquez of CICIG.

"If the leaders of Guatemala support Thelma Aldana and Iván Velásquez ... we will do our part to support the Alliance for Prosperity. But if there are attempts to undermine or shorten the work of these two exceptional officials, then Guatemala's leaders must seek support elsewhere," Leahy wrote in a separate statement.

While Leahy, one of the most influential senators in matters related to Central America, addressed his message to the "leaders of Guatemala" in general, he explicitly mentioned President Morales. 

Aldana and Velásquez "have received anonymous threats and attempts to intimidate them, and there is concern that President Morales opposes the renewal of Velasquez's appointment -- whose term ends in September -- or that he will ask the Secretary General of the United Nations to remove him," Leahy said. 

Political leaders in Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador are all connected to alleged criminals - Morales' son; Hernandez' brother; and Ortiz's business partners. US leverage over Central America has helped protect attorneys general in each country investigate these and other crimes. Leahy and other members of the US congress are going to have to keep up the pressure on Central American elites. They no longer had Biden in their corner and I'm not sure there's anyone in the new administration with interest in the region.