Central America

Elections leave a fragmented Congress in Guatemala

Photo: Palacio Legislativo

June 27 |

With 99 percent of the tables counted, the voting trend in Guatemala last Sunday already marks the names of the deputies that will make up the Tenth Legislature and leave a Congress without clear and sufficient majorities for who will be the next president.

The until now official party, Vamos, will be the main force in Congress after obtaining 39 deputies (out of 160), while the second force will be the National Unity of Hope (UNE) with 28 deputies, followed by the Seed Movement, which will occupy 23 seats.

In addition to the elected deputies, there is a list of candidates who did not achieve victory and among them there are several well-known names such as former president Jimmy Morales, former minister Enrique Degenhart, current deputy Patricia Sandoval and former deputy Fernando Linares Beltranena.

According to local media, the strategy of the still official Vamos party of “taking advantage of public resources to carry out political clientelism, allying itself with the majority of the country’s mayors and strengthening its structure in Congress with deputies from parties such as the Union of National Change (UCN) paid off in these elections”.

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Among the deputies repeating with Vamos is Allan Rodríguez, whose brother, Luis Alberto Rodríguez will also be a deputy. Shirley Rivera, current president of Congress was also reelected.

Meanwhile, Unidad Nacional de la Esperanza (UNE) notably reduced its number of legislators, going from 52 elected in 2019 to around 27 it will have after these elections.

Bernardo Arévalo, from the Semilla party, will dispute the presidency together with Torres. The political grouping will be the third force in Congress, with around 22 legislators.

In turn, Edmond Mulet’s party will have 18 legislators, while a total of 13 groups will add between one and nine legislators, among which are Valor, of candidate Zury Ríos and Visión Con Valores (Viva), which was supported by former President Alfonso Portillo. His ex-wife Evelyn Morataya will repeat as deputy.

The results of the elections for the Central American Parliament (Parlacen) also show that at least eight parties will be able to place at least one deputy, out of the 20 deputies to be elected for this regional body, headed equally by Vamos.

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Central America

Guatemala President Says Starlink Terminal Found Inside Prison

Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo revealed on Tuesday that a Starlink terminal was discovered inside a prison in the country, highlighting corruption and the illegal introduction of advanced communication technology into the penitentiary system.

Arévalo did not specify which prison the device was found in but stressed that Starlink’s ability to connect directly to low-orbit satellites makes it particularly difficult to disrupt, posing a serious security risk.

The disclosure was made during a press conference attended by Interior Minister Marco Antonio Villeda and Defense Minister Henry Sáenz.

On January 6, specialized units of Guatemala’s National Civil Police (PNC), members of the Army and prison security personnel carried out Operation Sentinel at the Renovación 1 Maximum Security Prison for Men, located in Escuintla. According to the Interior Ministry, the operation aimed to reduce criminal activity, prevent illicit acts and stop the trafficking of prohibited items inside the prison.

During the operation, authorities also dismantled businesses operating near several prisons after detecting routers that were allegedly used to redirect internet signals into penitentiary facilities, according to local outlet Emisoras Unidas.

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Tensions escalated further over the weekend of January 17 and 18, when inmates affiliated with gangs staged riots in three prisons. During the unrest, they took prison guards and a psychologist hostage, demanding extra-large beds, air conditioning, transfers to other facilities and access to the internet.

Central America

Guatemala Police Arrest Prison Guard Caught in the Act of Extortion

Guatemala’s National Civil Police (PNC) arrested a suspected extortionist in the act during an operation carried out in the department of Quiché, authorities reported.

According to the police report, the arrest took place in Zone 1 of Santa Cruz del Quiché after officers responded to a citizen complaint. Agents from Precinct 71 identified the suspect as Encarnación “N”, 41, who was serving as a guard in the Guatemalan Penitentiary System.

The suspect was caught while attempting to collect a package simulating an extortion payment totaling 25,000 quetzales. Police intervened at the precise moment the money was being handed over, allowing authorities to document the crime in flagrante delicto.

Following the operation, the detainee was placed at the disposal of the competent courts to face criminal proceedings.

The PNC emphasized that such operations aim to dismantle criminal structures involved in extortion, regardless of whether those implicated are linked to state institutions, and urged the public to continue reporting these crimes through confidential channels.

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Central America

Honduras swears in conservative president Asfura after disputed election

Conservative politician Nasry Asfura assumed the presidency of Honduras on Tuesday with an agenda closely aligned with the United States, a shift that could strain the country’s relationship with China as he seeks to confront the economic and security challenges facing the poorest and most violent nation in Central America.

Asfura’s rise to power, backed by U.S. President Donald Trump, marks the end of four years of left-wing rule and secures Trump another regional ally amid the advance of conservative governments in Chile, Bolivia, Peru, and Argentina.

The 67-year-old former mayor and construction businessman was sworn in during an austere ceremony at the National Congress, following a tightly contested election marred by opposition allegations of fraud and Trump’s threat to cut U.S. aid if his preferred candidate did not prevail.

Grateful for Washington’s support, Asfura—who is of Palestinian descent—traveled to the United States to meet with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, before visiting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

“We need to strengthen relations with our most important trading partner,” Asfura said after being declared the winner of the November 30 election by a narrow margin, following a tense vote count that lasted just over three weeks.