Stories from Guatemala

Emiliano Valdes Melendreras has been appointed as the new Vice Minister of Culture.

The Guatemalan Council of Ministers has vetoed a law intended to prevent sexual abuse. The Executive branch cited unconstitutionality within the proposed legislation as the reason for the veto. The decision was confirmed via the Diario Oficial.

A third-instance appeal has been filed against former mayor Víctor of Santa Catarina Pinula.

They stated that for two years and nine months, the defense was not permitted to present evidence. The tenth court, acting as the first instance, reportedly rejected the majority of defense evidence.

Guatemalan deputies have failed to reach an agreement to approve a new anti-money laundering law.

The sanctions follow allegations of halting judicial prosecution against former prosecutors, journalists, activists, and human rights defenders. Porras faces the challenge of demonstrating that the Attorney General's Office can operate as an autonomous institution.

Guatemalan President Bernardo Arevalo de Leon has appointed Garcia Luna to lead the country's criminal prosecution entity. This appointment ends the eight-year tenure of current prosecutor Consuelo Porras. Porras has previously faced sanctions from the United States.

Gabriel Estuardo García Luna has been appointed as the new Attorney General of Guatemala.

President of Guatemala announced the appointment of Dr. García Luna received 15 unanimous votes from the Nomination Commission. He previously served as an advisor and was considered a favorite of the presidency. His career has focused on organized crime, drug trafficking, money laundering, and juvenile delinquency. He received training from the United States Embassy and the General Council of the Judiciary of Spain. García Luna began his judicial career in 1997 and served as a justice of the peace in Mixco between 2006 and 2012. An international expert panel welcomed the election of the president in this context. The panel stated that the new Attorney General must work alongside security forces without compromising judicial autonomy. Responsible and independent leadership was described as indispensable for addressing corruption and organized crime in Guatemala.