Guatemalan lawmakers accuse MEM officials of fuel subsidy irregularities

Deputies from the Voluntad, Oportunidad y Solidaridad (VOS) parliamentary bloc announced they will file a complaint against officials of the Ministry of Energy and Mines (MEM) over alleged irregularities in a fuel subsidy program. The subsidy, worth Q2 billion and intended to run for three months, was terminated after only two months, raising concerns about misuse of funds.

Lawmakers claim the subsidy delivered little benefit to the Guatemalan population, noting a 33 % increase in monthly fuel consumption that they attribute to possible smuggling or misallocation. They criticize the decision to pay the subsidy after fuel was internalized rather than distributing it directly at gas stations, arguing that a more transparent approach could have ensured the subsidy reached end‑consumers.