After the deputies to the Congress of the Republic convened the nomination commissions on April 16 for the election of the judges of the Supreme Court of Justice (CSJ) and Courts of Appeals, The interests in placing the “less honest” will begin to be revealed, according to entities and former magistrates.
Recently, a conglomerate of organizations called on the rectors of the country’s universities not to elect Walter Mazariegos as their president before the Nomination Commissions, considering that He is not a suitable person due to the way he was appointed to the position of Rector of the University of San Carlos de Guatemala (Usac).
Carmen Aída Ibarra, director of the Projusticia Movement, reiterates that Mazariegos lacks suitability and states that the concern centers on the fact that “traditionally” in the Nomination Commissions to elect these magistrates, The rector of USAC has always chaired one of the commissions.
“Sometimes he presides over the commission to elect the Courts of Appeal or the Supreme Court. Generally, the commissions have been chaired by the rectors of the Rafael Landívar, San Carlos and Mesoamericana universities, but San Carlos has always had a commission,” he explained.
Regarding whether there is a group of rectors related to Mazariegos, Ibarra believes that there is, although he prefers not to name names. However, he is aware that the interests of some commissioners will come into play during the process.
Interests
Yolanda Pérez Ruiz, former judge of the Appeals Chamber, and who opposes Mazariegos presiding over a Nomination Commission, says she has no evidence that a group related to him exists and affirms that in this type of processes there have always been those who want to the best prepared and honorable candidates, but also There are those who prefer the less honest and it is something that, he affirms, will be seen in this process.
“Because it is convenient for a group to defend its own interests, which are unacceptable to citizens. There are always those who prefer the less honest, that is why we We must comply with ensuring that people have the honorability that the Constitution requires,” he said.
Ask for observers
Prior to the call, President Bernardo Arévalo last March asked the Organization of American States (OAS) to establish itself as an observer of the process. Request that during the plenary session the deputies “crossed out” as a possible interference.
Deputy Sandra Jovel, member of the Valor bloc, stated that independence must prevail in the work of renewing the courts. “It is very important because there has to be, first, a separation of powers. This is where each of the State bodies must really decide what is going to happen in the country.”
Inauguration
Mazariegos won the rectorship of the Usac on May 14, 2022, in an event that his detractors describe as “fraud and imposition”, as they claim that it was not democratic, following neutralizing the opposition’s electoral bodies, apparently without legal basis.
From that moment, groups of students and teachers began a series of protests rejecting Mazariegos, requesting as their main demand a new election process.
As a result of discontent towards the new rector and the election process, 10 university buildings were taken, including the central campus.
An attempt was made to obtain a position from the university rectors, but some They did not answer phone calls or messages. Others preferred not to express an opinion.
#Organizations #fear #Walter #Mazariegos #chosen #preside #Nomination #Commissions
