Patricia Orantes to leave Environment Ministry and return to Congress

The Guatemalan government has confirmed that Patricia Orantes, the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, will step down from her position on September 1, 2026. Orantes will return to her role as a deputy in the Congress of the Republic.

Orantes, a biologist and co-founder of the Semilla Movement, was appointed to the cabinet by President Bernardo Arévalo in April 2024. During her tenure, she was credited by the administration for strengthening the institution and prioritizing environmental protection.

Her return to the legislature means that Luis Enrique Ventura Urbina, who has been occupying her congressional seat during her ministerial term, will vacate the position. The executive branch has not yet announced a successor for the Ministry of Environment.