I hope Jimmy Morales's next forty-six months are better

Orlando Perez takes a look at Jimmy Morales' first two months in office for Latin America Goes Global.

Democracy in Guatemala was strengthened by the popular protests that mobilized thousands of people to demand greater transparency and accountability from those who govern the country. Jimmy Morales rode the wave of their anger and awakening to power by promising to harness their energy and his outsider status to promote change. So far, though, his lack of experience and reliance on traditional clientelistic practices and dubious collaborators has left many Guatemalans disappointed and weakened the prospects for long-term, sustainable democratic change.

It's been a rough two months for Guatemala. Unfortunately, Morales and the economic and political elites backing him seem to have no interest in improving the country. Their goals are to beat back CICIG and perhaps get the US Ambassador Todd Robinson thrown out of the country.

While many of us applaud the US' increased commitment to support transitional justice initiatives and tackle corruption, those policies are "forcing" local elites to rally behind each other in order to fend off Uncle Sam's interference in their sovereign affairs. The US' decision to go after Honduras' Rosenthal family on money laundering charges has some Guatemalans shaking in their boots.