Guatemala

State of Democracy Guatemala

Guatemala is a positive example of a post-conflict society where democracy is taking root. Free and fair elections have been held for more than twenty years. The electoral system has shaped political pluralism and a multiparty legislature. The most recent elections in 2011 resulted, just like the elections in 2007, in a minority government. The governing party, Partido Patriota (PP), holds 57 of the 158 seats in Congress. It is also worth noticing that during the elections the voter turnout was around 65% in the first round, and 60% in the second, which shows a high appreciation for the democratic system. In 2008 democracy was tested when lawyer Rodrigo Rosenberg was found death after he accused the president of being involved in a corruption scandal. He made the accusations in a video message in which he also stated that if he were to be found death, he would have been killed by government agents. Thankfully, most political parties reacted cautiously and agreed on an institutional solution. The investigation conducted by the International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG) showed that Rosenberg’s death had been a planned suicide.

Polarisation

Being the third largest party in congress during the previous elections, the Partido Patriota is now the governing party with president Molina. The second force in congress is the UNE-GANA partnership, although it has shown signs of rupture. The remaining seats are occupied by other parties.

The UNE governed from 2007 to 2011. The last year however, was characterized by harsh conflicts in Congress between the ruling party and the opposition, and the government was unable to further its legislative agenda. The main challenge for the current PP government is to leave the past aside and find consensus with other political parties to get their legislative agenda adopted.

CICIG

Founded in 2007, the International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG) is the result of a United Nations initiative to support Guatemala in the dismantling of illegal groups and clandestine security organizations that have prevailed since the time of armed conflict. The recommendations of the CICIG have been instrumental in the fight against impunity and institutional strengthening of the justice system. For this reason its mandate has been extended.

Political Alliances

The configuration of the congress, where minorities prevail, forced parties to form alliances in order to reach an agreement on a national agenda and gain approval and support for government policies. During the previous legislature, UNE managed to establish an alliance that enacted significant security laws and loans to finance the national budget. In November 2011, the congress gave an important signal by approving the budget for the first year in office of the Partido Patriota.

Public funds

The government of Guatemala lacks public funds to provide for the basic needs of all citizens. While according to development indicators Guatemala has progressed considerably in the past years, it has grown much slower than other countries in Latin America. Guatemala suffers from structural economic inequalities which have been aggravated by the global financial crisis. In 2009 the government proposed a modest change in tax legislation to raise revenues for investment in healthcare, education and security. So far, the bill has not passed Congress. Tax reform has positioned itself in the political and social debate in recent years, and it is a core action line of the government programme of Perez Molina.

Social Economic Council

Guatemala experienced various problems arising from social and political instability, historic structural problems and high vulnerability to climate change. Apart from the relative capacity of each government, the State has never had the financial capacity to solve the various crises in a satisfactory manner. Also, there is not a career civil service, making it difficult to develop the institutions necessary to confront these challenges. The draft constitution of the Economic Social Council (CES) to Guatemala, seeks to provide this space in order to generate consensus on the productive groups in the country, to propose and support public policies and legislative initiatives, and provide advice to the government on economic and social matters. The initiative has been welcomed as an opportunity to support national projects in the long term in these sectors of civil society.

NIMD Guatemala Programme

In the current political climate, the NIMD country office in Guatemala has been working on the reduction of polarisation through the Forum of Political Parties (FPP) and the support of the Congress. Set up in 2002, the FPP is a permanent platform for multiparty dialogue. The Forum promotes the Shared National Agenda (SNA), a reform agenda endorsed in 2003 by all political parties. The FPP provides a platform for political actors to meet and prepare legislation on issues such as security, women's rights, regional integration, and issues relating to young people and indigenous groups. There have been many different results from the work of the Forum. Working together through democratic dialogue contributes to a better understanding of differences, which helps in reaching consensus.

Local Politics

Governance at the municipal level is another focus area of NIMD's programme in Guatemala. In 27 municipalities throughout the country civil society organisations and local representatives of political parties have worked together on Shared Municipal Agendas (SMAs) for the development of their municipality. NIMD and its partners – Acción Ciudadana, Guatemala’s Supreme Electoral Tribunal, and the Italian aid agency Cooperazione Internazionale (COOPI) – seek to help municipal governments improve the management of public funds and services, and make them more accountable to their residents. The programme has contributed to a reduction of conflicts between political parties and civil society as politicians and citizens learn to work together on the future of their community. Currently, NIMD is redirecting its programme at local level at democracy education and youth.

Changes in legislation

Examples of legislative reform that NIMD has supported include the reform of the Rules and Regulations of Congress that separate the responsabilities for the political and for the administrative functions of Congress. Furthermore, NIMD supports initiatives to further improve the political party and electoral legislations and improve transparency in political party financing.

Social Economic Council

For almost five years now, NIMD has facilitated a process that brings together leaders from different sectors in order to create a Social Economic Council (SEC) for Guatemala. In 2009, a Promoter Group was formed with representatives from employers, unions and cooperatives. Former president Alvaro Colom supported the creation of the SEC from the beginning, while the global financial crisis has made ??its existence even more urgent. The founding group had meetings with the two presidential candidates before the second round of elections for the presidency, and both recognized the importance of the Council in terms of governance.

Stakeholders

1. Programme partner

NIMD country office

2. National partners

Universidad San Carlos
Legis
Accion Ciudadana

3. International partners

German Foundations
Organisation of American States (OAS)
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA)
Stichting Nederlandse Vereniging (SNV)

Contact person for this programme:

Heleen Schrooyen, heleenschrooyen@nimd.org