Guatemala appoints Gabriel García Luna as Attorney General

President Bernardo Arévalo sworn in Gabriel Estuardo García Luna as Guatemala’s new Attorney General and head of the Ministry Public on 15 May 2026. García Luna, a 49‑year‑old jurist with nearly three decades in the judicial system, will serve a four‑year term from 2026 to 2030, succeeding Consuelo Porras, whose eight‑year tenure was marred by U.S., Canadian and EU sanctions for undermining democracy.

The swearing‑in ceremony was followed by García Luna taking formal office on 17 May 2026 amid public celebrations in Guatemala City, where crowds gathered to mark the end of Porras’s era. The transition occurred despite legal challenges, including an amparo petition before the Constitutional Court questioning the eligibility criteria for the post.

García Luna’s stated priorities include restoring the autonomy of the prosecutor’s office, combating transnational crime such as narcotrafficking and human‑trafficking, and improving criminal investigations. Civil society and international partners are closely watching whether the new leadership can halt previous patterns of political persecution and strengthen the rule of law.