TED Supports the EU and Member States in Guatemala to Strengthen Reform Processes and Enhance Support to Partners

In recent years, Guatemala experienced significant developments in its democratic landscape, marked by both challenges and progress. The 2023 presidential elections resulted in the victory of Bernardo Arévalo, a candidate from the Movimiento Semilla party. Despite international recognition of the elections as fair and transparent, the aftermath was fraught with attempts by the Attorney General’s Office to annul the results, citing alleged irregularities. These efforts included suspending the legal status of Arévalo's party and opening criminal investigations against him and his supporters.

Although the turmoil had initial negative impact on governance processes, the country's democratic future holds an optimistic outlook. The successful inauguration of President Bernardo Arévalo, now midway through his term, despite numerous attempts to undermine the electoral process, signifies a critical moment for democracy in the region. The urgency for reform in Guatemala is palpable, as citizens’ expectations for transparency and accountability have risen sharply following these events.

As part of TED’s engagement in country, responding to an EU Delegation and Member States request, three studies on justice reform, civic space capacity and open government reform were conducted between February and June 2025 drawing on about 70 interviews. The findings underscored the need to support government performance and the country's transition, making use of the renewed commitment of the government to promote human rights and accountability, while managing potential backlashes and strengthening the environment for civil society.

Civil society is open to dialogue but lacks effective engagement channels. Its influence is limited by using criminal law to restrict CSO operations, scarce funding, and weak regulatory frameworks. Recommendations call for a common agenda, stronger protection, and enhancing capacities through self-financing, and global engagement, also with the Global Gateway Strategy.

For the justice system, key priorities include transparent appointment processes in 2026, promoting open justice reform and ensuring the integrity of judicial information, and improving access to justice for vulnerable groups. These key areas, accompanied with continued support to the National Anti-Corruption Commission and continued digitalization of the sector, all contribute to reinforcing the democratic foundation of Guatemala society, strengthening its social fabric. 

Guatemala joined the Open Government Partnership in 2011 to show its commitment to reforms involving transparency and accountability. The current government is preparing its 2026-28 OGP Action Plan which offers a key opportunity to advance participation and make significant reform progress. The TED-supported analysis proposed specific entry points and urgent areas which require closer attention from Team Europe. Follow-up steps are being considered, such as analysing the cross-links between Team Europe funded activities and the key points of the 2026-28 Action Plan to look ahead and effectively align efforts for stronger impact.

The 2023 Electoral Observation Mission (EOM) proposed 26 reform recommendations across five areas, out of which only two have seen partial progress. This limited advancement is largely due to judicial and political interference affecting the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE), including three ongoing cases, one related to alleged fraud in the 2023 presidential elections. Political fragmentation, internal divisions within the TSE, and a flawed reform process, particularly regarding institutional autonomy, have further hindered progress. Early, coordinated multi-donor support for the upcoming electoral process is needed. Both the TSE and civil society have been weakened by interference and reduced international cooperation. Preserving international consensus and strategic engagement remains essential to address Guatemala’s democratic challenges. These insights were highlighted in the joint electoral reform roadmap developed by TED for the EU Delegation and Member States. The document was shared and extensively used by the EU EOM follow-up mission in May 2025.