Out of Old Corruption Comes a New Guatemala

Anna Landre, Staff Writer

Following months of political crisis and public upheaval, Guatemalan President Otto Perez Molina resigned from office in early September, only to be arrested hours later. Elected in 2012, President Perez Molina had been implicated in one of the largest corruption scandals the country has ever seen, a multimillion dollar customs fraud case that has shaken the nation.

Earlier, the scandal had prompted the resignation of the Vice President and more than a dozen Cabinet members, ministers, and government officials. Only after the the Guatemalan Congress voted to strip him of his prosecutorial immunity did Perez Molina step down, amid large-scale public protests demanding political reform and new elections.

Tens of thousands of citizens congregated on August 27th in Guatemala City, the nation’s capital, in the largest public demonstration this year. More have followed since, calling for the prosecutions of corrupt officials. Enough momentum was generated by past protests to foment the resignation of Congressmen, and the continued investigation of Perez Molina. The protests have been a binding societal event for Guatemala, with a public and collective refusal to settle for a corrupt leader. In accordance with demonstrations, businesses and many government offices closed, pledging not to open again until Perez Molina stepped down. Guatemala’s Attorney General urged the President to resign, and the National Chamber of Commerce even asked member companies to let their employees join the protests instead of going to work.

This blatant reminder of of Guatemala’s institutionalized corruption has led to a rise in anti-establishment sentiment among citizens. In fact, the frontrunner for the current presidential election is Jimmy Morales, a comedian. The same phenomenon is seen in America, where candidates like Donald Trump, a businessman, and Ben Carson, a neurosurgeon, have gained traction in public opinion. Morales will face former Guatemalan first lady Sarah Torres in a runoff election this month.