Monitor ISSUE 30
Corruption debate cast long shadow over Guatemala elections Guatemala's politics and elections have long been plagued by allegations of corruption, and the run-up to the country's 25 June presidential and parliamentary elections proved no exception, Latin American specialist Blaire Toedte writes. Guatemala’s election authority, the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) reported on 26 June that, with more than 90 per cent of the votes counted, former First Lady Sandra Torres and a left-leaning candidate, Bernardo Arevalo, would compete in the 20 August run-off election. Torres and Arevalo received 15.14 per cent and 12.20 per cent of the vote respectively The theme of corruption heavily permeated the debate in Guatemalan media and social media coverage of the vote and its over 20 presidential candidates. Several prominent contenders were barred from standing earlier in the race by electoral and judicial authorities, in decisions widely viewed by critics as politically-motivated.
This, and corruption accusations being exchanged between the main election front-runners, were seen by observers as badly undermining voters' confidence in the election and in Guatemala's democracy. The Spanish term “pacto de corruptos” (pact of the corrupt) – widely understood in Guatemala to refer to a wealthy ruling political and business elite linked to the Armed Forces and seeking to maintain control of the government – has become both a warning shout and a rallying cry for those seeking to change the way Guatemala is governed. It has figured constantly, with notable spikes, in the media and social media debate of the last few months ahead of the 25 June ballot.
Political analysts cited by the media have described a “deterioration” in the country's democratic institutions in recent years, especially following the 2019 end of operations of a UN-backed anti-corruption entity, Cicig (International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala), whose mandate was not renewed in 2018 by then President Jimmy Morales. Morales himself was under investigation by Cicig, whose disbanding was seen hastening Guatemala's slide to being a “fragile democracy”, news website Plaza Public reported on 11 June.
Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) employees prepare for the elections
JOHAN ORDONEZ/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES
Social media mentions of a 'pact of the corrupt' rose when candidates were suspended
Political analysts cited by the media have described a “deterioration” in the country's democratic institutions MONITORING.BBC.CO.UK MONITORING.BBC.CO.UK
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