Brussels (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The EU condemns Guatemala’s misuse of the justice system, highlighting political abuses, corruption, and threats to democracy.
The European Union’s spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy has released a statement on the latest development in Guatemala. As reported by the European Union External Action, the recent and continuing actions by the Guatemalan Public Prosecutor’s Office (Ministerio Público), including the inquiries started against the Superintendent of Tax Administration—an institution actively employed in fighting corruption and the revocation order against the Movimiento Semilla political party, are elements of a profoundly concerning pattern of politically motivated abuse of the justice system.
Further, the statement said that the European Union has consistently expressed serious concerns regarding the instrumentalisation of Guatemala’s judicial institutions, emphasising the threats to democratic governance and the rule of law, especially in the aftermath of the 2023 elections.
The European Union also recalls that the EU Council has chosen to renew for one year, until 13 January 2026, the targeted sanctions inflicted by the EU against those responsible for activities undermining democracy, the rule of law and the tranquil transfer of power in Guatemala. The European Union states that it continues to closely observe developments and any activities that sabotage democracy and the rule of law.
What actions by Guatemala’s prosecutor raised EU concerns?
On Dec 5, 2024, the Public Prosecutor’s Office of Guatemala, whose administration is sanctioned by the European Union and the United States for corruption, intruded into a company belonging to the families of the head of the tax collection agency, Marco Livio Díaz Reyes, who a few months ago accused a multimillion-dollar corruption strategy during the government of Alejandro Giammattei.
The incursion was approved by the Public Prosecutor’s Office at the headquarters of an auditing company belonging to the brothers of Díaz Reyes, leader of the Superintendency of Tax Administration (SAT), the tax collection mechanism in Guatemala. Prosecutor Rafael Curruchiche was also put on the sanction list by the United States of America.
