Guatemala's Constitutional Court decides fate of criminal case against journalists

The Guatemalan Constitutional Court held a public hearing on June 2, 2026 to determine whether to uphold an appeal filed by the now‑defunct Special Prosecutor's Office against Impunity (FECI). The appeal seeks to revive criminal proceedings against six journalists and two columnists from the former newspaper elPeriódico, accusing them of “obstruction of justice.”

No representatives from the Public Ministry or the Attorney General’s Office attended, leaving only the journalists and their lawyers to speak. They argued that the case constitutes a criminalisation of independent reporting and asked the court to dismiss the appeal, citing earlier rulings that had halted the prosecution. The judges now hold the decisive vote on whether the case will be permanently closed, ending a legal campaign that has forced many of the targeted reporters into exile.