| Arturo Eduardo Meyer Maldonado ( M) |
| Ana Isabel Antillón ( F) |
9a Av. 944, Zona 1
GUATEMALA CITY
Tel.: (502) 2232 1260, 2230 4176, 2230 2773
Fax: (502) 2220 40 24
E-mail: anaantillon@congreso.gob.gt
presidencia@congreso.gob.gt
| http://www.congreso.gob.gt |
1979 - 1982
1986
- 1 multi-member (31 seats) national constituency
- majority vote for 127 departmental seats
- proportional representation (d'Hondt method) from a national list for 31 seats
Vacancies arising between general elections are filled by substitutes elected at the same time as titular members.
Voting is compulsory with certain exceptions; abstention is punishable by a fine.
- Guatemalan citizenship
- full possession of civil and political rights
- disqualifications: membership of the armed and police forces, imprisonment
- literacy
- ineligibility: close relatives of the President and Vice-President of the Republic, conviction for crime
- holders of certain public functions
- members of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal or Audit Office
- government contractors
Also available:
Archive of past election results for this chamber
In 2003, the Guatemalan Republican Front (FRG) became the largest party in the Congress with 42 seats of the 158 seats. The Grand National Alliance (GANA) took 41 seats and the centre-left National Unity of Hope (UNE) 31. The GANAs leader, Mr. Óscar Berger, defeated Mr. Álvaro Colom (UNE) in the run-off presidential elections.
Fourteen of the 15 political parties that participated in the 2007 parliamentary elections also endorsed presidential candidates.
Mr. Colom again represented the UNE. Mr. Otto Pérez Molina - a former head of military intelligence during Guatemalas 1960-1996 Civil War - was the candidate of the right-wing conservative Patriotic Party (PP). In 2003, the PP had been part of the Grand National Alliance (GANA), which endorsed the director of Guatemala's prison system, Mr. Alejandro Giammattei, as its presidential candidate in 2007. The Guatemalan Republican Front (FRG) chose the outgoing Speaker of Congress, General Efraín Ríos Montt, as its presidential candidate. Mr. Ríos Montt later withdrew his presidential candidature but still led the FRG into the parliamentary elections.
As in 2003, poverty and crime remained main issues in the 2007 elections. Although President Berger had managed to stabilize the countrys economy, the gap between the rich and the poor remained a major underlying problem. Guatemala also has the highest murder rate in Latin America.
About a half of Guatemalas population are indigenous Maya Indian (Mayan) people. In the 2007 elections, the Encounter for Guatemala (EG) endorsed Nobel Peace Prize laureate and Mayan activist, Ms. Rigoberta Menchú, as its presidential candidate. In 1999, she had brought a petition to try General Ríos Montt in a Spanish tribunal for crimes against humanity, accusing him of giving orders to carry out acts of genocide in 1981 and 1982.
Mr. Colom (UNE), a former deputy minister of the economy, argued that crime was caused by Guatemalas deep social problems, including poverty, marginalization, and discrimination. He pledged to introduce a comprehensive "human solidarity programme" to deal with crime and achieve security in the country. He promised to reform the security forces and the judicial system, while creating jobs and providing a social programme for the poor.
Mr. Molina (PP) promised to increase the police force by 50 per cent, to use the army to clamp down on criminals, and to re-introduce the death penalty. Mr. Giammattei (GANA) vowed to introduce tougher regulations to deal with crime.
At least 50 people were killed during the election campaign, making the poll the bloodiest since the end of the Civil War. Victims included the 14 year old daughter of a UNE parliamentary candidate, and an assistant to the UNE's vice-presidential candidate. Some of the killings were reportedly caused by drug gangs who wished to see candidates of their choice accede to political office. The Organization of American States (OAS) urged the government to launch an investigation into the killings.
Approximately 60.46 per cent of the countrys 5.9 million registered voters turned out at the polls. A total of 34,000 police officers and soldiers were deployed on polling day.
The Parliamentary Confederation of the Americas declared that the elections themselves had been held in an orderly manner.
The final results gave 51 seats to the UNE. The GANA and the PP took 35 and 31 seats respectively, while the FRG took only 14, losing 28. Seven other parties won fewer than ten seats each. In all, 19 women were elected.
In the presidential elections, none of the candidates won the required 50 per cent of the votes to be elected in the first round. The run-off elections were held between Mr. Colom (UNE) and Mr. Molina (PP) on 4 November. Mr. Colom was elected with over 58 per cent of the votes.
On 14 January 2008, Mr. Colom was officially sworn in, becoming the first leftist president since the end of the Civil War.
On the same day, the newly-elected Congress held its first session and elected Mr. Arturo Eduardo Meyer Maldonado (UNE) as its new Speaker.
| Round no 1 (9 September 2007): Election results | ||||
| Number of registered electors | 5'990'029 | |||
| Voters | 3'621'852 (60.46%) | |||
| Blank or invalid ballot papers | 341'243 | |||
| Valid votes | 3'280'609 | |||
| Round no 1: Distribution of votes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Political Group | Candidates | Votes | % of votes | |||||||||||||||||||||
| National Unity for Hope Party (UNE) | 926'244 | 28.23 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Great National Alliance (GANA) | 565'270 | 17.23 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Patriotic Party (PP) | 771'175 | 23.51 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Guatemalan Republican Front (FRG) | 239'208 | 7.29 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Unionist Party (PU) | 95'743 | 2.92 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Center of Social Action (CASA) | 244'448 | 7.45 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nationalist Change Union (UCN) | 103'603 | 3.16 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Encounter for Guatemala (EG) | 101'316 | 3.09 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| National Advancement Party (PAN) | 83'826 | 2.56 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Guatemalan Revolutionary Unity (URNG) | 70'080 | 2.14 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Democratic Union (UD) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Round no 1: Distribution of seats | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Political Group | Total of seats | Number of women | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| National Unity for Hope Party (UNE) | 51 | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Great National Alliance (GANA) | 35 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Patriotic Party (PP) | 31 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Guatemalan Republican Front (FRG) | 14 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Unionist Party (PU) | 7 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Center of Social Action (CASA) | 5 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nationalist Change Union (UCN) | 5 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Encounter for Guatemala (EG) | 4 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| National Advancement Party (PAN) | 3 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Guatemalan Revolutionary Unity (URNG) | 2 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Democratic Union (UD) | 1 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
- Congress of the Republic (17.09.2007)
- http://elecciones2007.tse.org.gt/
- http://www.prensalibre.com/
- reasons for interruption of the term: death - resignation, dissolution of the Congress
- in the period between dissolution and the election of a new Congress, the Permanent Commission assumes the duties and functions of the President
- election is held at the beginning of each annual session or in any ordinary session convened for this purpose
- before Members' mandates are validated and before they are sworn in
- absolute majority (2/3) of Members is required
- if the required majority is not obtained, several rounds may be held. The second and subsequent rounds are held between the 2 candidates having received the greatest number of votes
- the former President supervises the voting
- the Board of Directors' Secretary announces the results without any delay
- the results cannot be challenged
- represents the Congress in international bodies and may delegate his/her powers to a Deputy
- in the absence of the Speaker, one of the three Vice-Presidents can assume his/her role and functions
- consists of the President of the Congress, the three Vice-Presidents and Clerks, elected for 1 year
- meets whenever necessary
- assists and advises the President
- establishes and modifies the agenda
- organizes the debates and sets speaking time
- examines the admissibility of bills and amendments
- refers texts to a committee for study
- examines the admissibility of request for setting up committees and/or committees of enquiry, proposes or decides on the setting up of such committees
- appoints committees and/or their presiding officers
- ensures respect for provisions of the Constitution and Standing Orders
- makes announcements concerning the Congress
- takes disciplinary measures in the event of disturbance, and lifts such measures
- establishes the list of speakers, gives and withdraws permission to speak
- establishes the order in which amendments are taken up and selects which amendments are to be debated
- calls for a vote, decides how it is to be carried out, verifies the voting procedure and cancels a vote in the event of irregularities
- checks the quorum
- authenticates the adopted texts and the records of debates
- interprets the rules or other regulations governing the life of the Congress
- has discretionary power to give the floor outside the agenda and thus organizes impromptu debates
- authorizes expenses and informs the Congress accordingly
- recruits, assigns and promotes staff
- plays a specific role in the conduct of foreign affairs or defence matters
- is responsible for relations with foreign Parliaments
- is responsible for safety, and in this capacity, can call the police in the event of disturbance in the Congress
- provides guidelines for the interpretation or completion of the text under discussion
- takes part in voting
- proposes bills or amendments
- intervenes in the parliamentary oversight procedure
· Procedure (Art. 170 (c) and (d) of the Constitution, Art. 60 of the Organic Law of the Legislative Organ)
· Authority competent to accept the resignation: the Congress
- Failure to attend plenary sittings (Art. 157 (3) and 170 (d) of the Constitution, Art. 66 (4) of the Organic Law of the Legislative Organ)
- Judicial decision: firm condemnatory sentence (Art. 161 (b) (4) of the Constitution, Art. 61 (1), (3) and (4) of the Organic Law of the Legislative Organ)
- Loss of mandate for incompatibilities (Art. 164 of the Constitution, Art. 61 (2) to (4) of the Organic Law of the Legislative Organ)
· Basic salary (see also Art. 55 (b) and 56 (1) of the Organic Law of the Legislative Organ): $ 3,000 per month
· No exemption from tax
· Pension scheme
· Other facilities:
(a) Assistants (Art. 55 (d) of the Organic Law of the Legislative Organ, see also Art. 153 to 163 of the Organic Law of the Legislative Organ)
(b) Travel and transport if on official business of the Congress
· Parliamentary non-accountability applies to words spoken and written by MPs both within and outside Parliament.
· Derogations: arbitrariness, excess of personal initiative, action tending to undermine the principle of no re-election for the exercise of the Presidency of the Republic (Art. 161 (b) of the Constitution), offence or insult (Art. 83 (e) and (f), 87, and 88 of the Organic Law of the Legislative Organ; see Discipline)
· Non-accountability takes effect on the day when the deputy is declared elected. It does not offer, after the expiry of the mandate, protection against prosecution for opinions expressed during the exercise of the mandate.
· It applies only to criminal proceedings, covers all offences and protects MPs from arrest and from being held in preventive custody, and from the opening of judicial proceedings against them. It does not protect them from their homes being searched.
· Derogations: in case of flagrante delicto, the MP is immediately placed at the disposition of the Bureau or the Permanent Commission of the Congress for the purpose of the corresponding initial judgement (antejuicio, Art. 161 (a) of the Constitution, Art. 135 to 138 of the Organic Law of the Legislative Organ).
· Parliamentary inviolability does not prevent MPs from being called as witnesses before a judge or tribunal.
· Protection is provided from the day when the deputy has been declared elected to the end of the mandate. It does not cover judicial proceedings instituted against MPs before their election but a candidate cannot be sworn in if criminal judicial proceedings are pending against him.
· Parliamentary immunity (inviolability) can be lifted (Art. 161 (a) of the Constitution):
- Competent authority: the Supreme Court
- Procedure. In this case, MPs must be heard. They have means of appeal.
· Parliament cannot subject the prosecution and/or detention to certain conditions.
· Parliament cannot suspend the prosecution and/or detention of one of its members.
· In the event of preventive custody or imprisonment, the MPs concerned cannot be authorised to attend sittings of Parliament.
· It is provided by national or international organisations.
· There is no handbook of parliamentary procedure.
· Penalties foreseen in case of failure to fulfil this obligation (Art. 157 (3) and 170 (d) of the Constitution, Art. 66 of the Organic Law of the Legislative Organ): deduction of indemnities, written admonition, private call to attention, further sanctions, loss of mandate
· Body competent to judge such cases/to apply the penalties: the Board, the Committee on Rules of Procedures, the Congress
· Disciplinary measures foreseen:
- Warning (Art. 83 (d) and (e) of the Organic Law of the Legislative Organ)
- Call to order (Art. 83 (d) and (e) of the Organic Law of the Legislative Organ)
- Prohibition to take the floor (Art. 83 (e) of the Organic Law of the Legislative Organ)
- Order to discontinue the speech (Art. 87 of the Organic Law of the Legislative Organ)
- Suspension from taking the floor (Art. 86 of the Organic Law of the Legislative Organ)
- Deletion from the records (Art. 86 of the Organic Law of the Legislative Organ)
- Order to present apologies
- Exclusion from Parliament (Art. 157 (3) and 170 (d) of the Constitution, Art. 66 of the Organic Law of the Legislative Organ)
· Specific cases:
- Offence or insult (Art. 83 (e) and (f), 87, and 88 of the Organic Law of the Legislative Organ)
- Warning, call to order, prohibition to take the floor, offence or insult: the President; the Congress (appeal)
- Suspension from taking the floor, deletion from the records, order to discontinue the speech, offence or insult: the President
- Exclusion from Parliament: the Congress
· Procedure:
- Warning and call to order (Art. 83 (d) and (f) of the Organic Law of the Legislative Organ)
- Warning, call to order, prohibition to take the floor, offence or insult (Art. 83 (e) and (f) of the Organic Law of the Legislative Organ)
- Order to discontinue the speech, offence or insult (Art. 87 and 88 of the Organic Law of the Legislative Organ)
- Suspension from taking the floor, deletion from the records (Art. 86 of the Organic Law of the Legislative Organ)
- Exclusion from Parliament (Art. 157 (3) and 170 (d) of the Constitution, Art. 66 of the Organic Law of the Legislative Organ)
· Penalties foreseen for violation of the rules of conduct:
- Suspension, exclusion from Parliament (Art. 161 (b) (4) of the Constitution, Art. 61 (1), (3) and (4) of the Organic Law of the Legislative Organ; judicial proceedings and condemnatory sentence)
- Suspension, exclusion from Parliament (Art. 164 of the Constitution, Art. 61 (2) to (4) of the Organic Law of the Legislative Organ; incompatibilities)
- Private or public admonition, vote of censure (Art. 53 and 67 of the Organic Law of the Legislative Organ)
- Suspension, exclusion: the Congress
- Private or public admonition, vote of censure: the Board; the Congress (appeal)
· Procedure:
- Suspension, exclusion from Parliament (Art. 161 (b) (4) of the Constitution, Art. 61 (1), (3) and (4) of the Organic Law of the Legislative Organ). In this case, MPs have (no) means of recourse.
- Suspension, exclusion from Parliament (Art. 164 of the Constitution, Art. 61 (2) to (4) of the Organic Law of the Legislative Organ).
- Private or public admonition, vote of censure (Art. 53 and 67 of the Organic Law of the Legislative Organ).
Also available:
Archive of past election results for this chamber
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