Dear OCCRP Reader,

We have a winner. Today, we named Guatemala's Attorney General María Consuelo Porras as the 2023 "Person of the Year in Organized Crime and Corruption."

Since 2012, we've bestowed this annual award on those who’ve done the most to bolster corruption and the political collusion that accompanies it. In the past, this dubious honor has been given to colorful despots, but this year, our panel of judges voted for a dry bureaucrat who has eviscerated the rule of law in Guatemala.

Why Porras Won: Guatemala’s attorney general made international headlines earlier this year when she oversaw efforts to prevent president elect Bernardo Arévalo from assuming office, including suspending his political party and raiding the election commission.

People tend to think of failed states as being solely run by authoritarian strongmen. But today’s autocrats are often careful to not disavow democracy. Instead they undermine its framework, including elections, the judiciary, and state institutions. Key to that strategy are people like Porras — bureaucrats who corrupt the democratic process while maintaining the illusion of normality. 

OCCRP is one of the few outlets equipped to investigate these key enablers of corruption. You can help us in this mission by becoming an OCCRP Accomplice 🤝

By making a donation, you will directly help fund our global network of journalists, including our colleagues in Latin America. You'll also help us empower citizens and civil society with the information they need to advocate for reforms that return stolen money to public coffers.

Thank you for being an OCCRP Reader. Happy New Year.
— Your OCCRP