Guatemala's new Attorney General Gabriel García Luna closes anti‑impunity unit and removes senior prosecutor

Gabriel García Luna, appointed Guatemala's Attorney General, announced the closure of the Fiscalía Especial Contra la Impunidad (FECI), saying the unit had lost "credibilidad ciudadana" and that all its files would be reviewed. In the same move, he dismissed Rafael Curruchiche, the former head of a unit accused of prosecuting journalists, ex‑fiscals, indigenous leaders and anti‑corruption activists. García Luna said the removal was part of a "fortalecimiento y reorganización institucional" effort.

Civil society group Liga ProPatria criticised García Luna's statements, arguing they "mata in limine" any promise of impartiality and demonstrated a lack of understanding of the Public Ministry’s role. The organization warned that closing the FECI or merely renaming it would not erase pending criminal investigations and could breach constitutional duties.

Both actions follow a broader context of international sanctions against former Attorney General Consuelo Porras and her allies, who were targeted by the United States, the European Union, Canada and the United Kingdom for alleged corruption and repression of anti‑corruption efforts.