Guatemala rector Walter Mazariegos receives court‑ordered finiquito amid pending criminal probes

Guatemala’s Sala Sexta de lo Contencioso Administrativo granted a provisional amparo ordering the Contraloría General de Cuentas (CGC) to extend a finiquito to Walter Mazariegos, rector of the University of San Carlos (USAC). The order was issued on 29 July 2026, allowing the university to formalise Mazariegos’ re‑election despite three criminal complaints registered with the Ministerio Público concerning alleged mismanagement of public funds.

The finiquito had previously been withheld because of those investigations, which have fueled student protests and accusations of electoral fraud in the rector’s 2022‑2026 term. Mazariegos assumed office on 1 July 2026 without the required document, but the court ruling removed that obstacle, reinforcing his legal protection while the pending probes continue.

Opposition groups and university bodies maintain that the court decision shields the rector from accountability, calling for independent audits and further legal action.