Guatemala Prosecutor's Office admits power groups controlled institution

The Fiscalía General de Guatemala told the Inter‑American Commission on Human Rights that “groups of power controlled the institution” for years, using it to secure impunity in corruption cases, especially during the tenure of former chief prosecutor Consuelo Porras. Secretary‑General Edwin Santiago Chavajay said these sectors promoted criminal proceedings against judges, journalists, human‑rights defenders and indigenous authorities, and attempted to delegitimize the 2023 elections and the democratically elected government with the backing of some judges.

Porras left the office in May after eight years; President Bernardo Arévalo appointed Gabriel García Luna as her successor, and the new prosecutor pledged to distance the office from past actions. The Fiscalía announced a new policy focused on respect for the rule of law and cooperation with the government to locate persons disappeared during the armed conflict and migration processes. CIDH commissioner Andrea Pochak said the commission will continue monitoring the Fiscalía and Guatemalan state on justice and human‑rights matters.