Guatemala heads to the polls on June 25 for an election overshadowed by rampant corruption and impunity. The current administration leaves behind a virtual monopoly on state institutions, while all of the leading candidates have direct or indirect ties to the country’s corrupt establishment.
The prospects for change are increasingly bleak, as elite corruption networks have leveraged their control of the court system to disqualify rival candidates on dubious grounds.
InSight Crime’s latest investigation dives deep into the political power networks with a stake in the Guatemala elections. We also document the broader climate of corruption now undermining the elections, democracy, and the rule of law in Guatemala.
Investigation Chapters
Perpetuating Corruption: The System Undermining the 2023 Guatemala Elections
Guatemala’s elections see the participation of political power blocs who have created a system to protect their interests.
The Road to 2023: A Peek Into Guatemala’s Criminal Past
Guatemala’s political landscape is dominated by corrupt elites that have ensured impunity for themselves and their allies.
Vamos: The Fight to Stay in the Game
Although President Giammattei cannot run in this year’s elections, his political party remains a dominant force.
UNE’s One-Pronged Strategy
Former first lady and repeat presidential candidate, Sandra Torres, is once again competing to become president of Guatemala.
Valor and the Ghost of the CIACS
Despite previous campaign bans, Zury Ríos is one of this election’s forerunners, her success due to support from a wide range of allies.
Cabal: Caciques and Compromises
Presidential frontrunner Edmond Mulet has run on a promise of change. But ties to candidates accused of corruption cast doubt on this pledge.
Citizen Prosperity: Wild Card Meets Status Quo
A look at former candidate Carlos Pineda Sosa, a popular outsider who was recently disqualified from Guatemala’s presidential race.
