A controversial suspension and a tense moment in Guatemala’s parliament
The Constitutional Court of Guatemala, the highest judicial authority, announced this Wednesday that it provisionally granted a challenge to the election of the new executive committee held last Sunday. The session was led from the official tribune by MP Samuel Pérez Álvarez.
In a formal statement, the court explained that it approved the appeal lodged by Representative Sandra Jovel. Jovel, who narrowly lost the Congressional presidential election on Sunday, argued that lawmakers aligned with the Semilla Movement were unlawfully prevented from taking office. This move has injected a new layer of controversy into a process already marked by political friction.
Pérez Álvarez secured the presidency with 92 votes out of 160 seats, in a vote that followed the parliamentary swearing-in on the same Sunday. The Semilla Movement, aligned with the recently inaugurated president Bernardo Arévalo de León, surprised many by gaining a presence in Congress despite having only a small caucus of 23 MPs. The opposing slate, which collected 75 votes, included representative Sandra Jovel of the Valor party, former presidential candidate Zury Ríos, and the current president Alejandro Giammattei (2020-2024) in alliance with Vamos.
A suspension that stirs debate
The dispute centers on Jovel’s assertion that Semilla Movement deputies were suspended due to a July 12 criminal order issued by Judge Fredy Orellana, a figure facing scrutiny from international observers. This development has raised questions about judicial independence and the balance of power within the government.
The criminal case against Orellana involves allegations of forging signatures during the founding of the Semilla Movement in 2018. Arévalo de León himself reported the issue in early 2023. Following Arévalo de León’s second-place finish in the June 2023 elections, the Guatemalan Public Ministry and groups allied with Giammattei intensified efforts to challenge the leadership of the Semilla deputies. The aim, many argue, has been to delay or derail Arévalo de León from assuming his role as president of the republic before and after the inauguration.
The appointment of Arévalo de León was made by the Congress president, Samuel Pérez Álvarez, in a session held at dawn on Monday. According to the Constitutional Court, Pérez Álvarez’s action in backing Arévalo de León stands as the sole act of his brief presidency that should not be reversed, according to the court’s interpretation.
In recent months Guatemala has witnessed moments of intense tension as factions have floated accusations of attempted coups. Arévalo de León himself referenced the volatility last September, highlighting the delicate balance between constitutional norms and political pushes.
Cited authorities and observers stress that the court’s intervention underscores the fragility of the electoral and parliamentary processes in shaping a stable government. The unfolding events reflect a broader pattern in which legal mechanisms intersect with party politics, media narratives, and public expectations about governance in Guatemala. The situation remains a focal point for debates about governance, accountability, and the rule of law in the country. [Citation: Constitutional Court report]