Through the infiltration of judicial bodies and the nefarious criminal persecution of justice operators committed to fighting corruption and protecting human rights, those at the helm of Guatemala’s illicit networks ensure impunity for their crimes, aided by an entire state apparatus that has, for decades, worked to benefit them. The level of backsliding that has taken place since the expulsion of the International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG by its Spanish acronym) in late 2018 and that has continued at a rampant pace under Consuelo Porras places that much more importance on this year’s attorney general election that began in January 2021.
The Public Prosecutor’s Office’s (MP) commitment to fighting impunity and strengthening the rule of law is an essential component of Guatemala’s return to democracy. The Attorney General election is not only an opportune moment for the international community to commit to a more cohesive strategy, but it could very well be the last for years to come.
What has the electoral process looked like so far?
What impact have the current attorney general and president had on Guatemala's democracy?
How should the international community respond?
WOLA offers analysis on these topics in our latest commentary with Director for Central America, Ana María Méndez Dardón, and Central America Program Associate, Julia Aikman Cifuentes.
