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1 1 (Updated September 18, 2024)

handle is hein.crs/goveqrc0001 and id is 1 raw text is: nfriumu na the eastve deba since 1914 0 Updated September 18, 2024 Guatemala: An Overview Guatemala, the most populous country in Central America, has strived to consolidate its democracy since the 1990s. It has faced many political and social challenges, as well as human rights abuses and widespread impunity. Traditionally, the United States and Guatemala have had close relations, with friction at times over certain issues, such as corruption and migration. During the 118th Congress, Members have debated how to prioritize the sometimes-competing objectives of strengthening democracy in Guatemala and partnering with the Guatemalan government on other challenges. Poitcal Situation Guatemala has a long history of internal conflict and violence, including a 36-year civil war (1960-1996). For most of that period, the Guatemalan military held power and repressed citizens' human rights. An estimated 200,000 people were killed or disappeared during the civil conflict; 83% of the victims were Indigenous. In 1986, Guatemala established a civilian democratic government, but military repression continued. In 1996, then-President Alvaro Arzt1 (1996-2000) and Guatemala's main insurgent group, the Guatemalan National Revolutionary Unit (URNG), signed United Nations-mediated peace accords to end the conflict. Nearly 30 years later, some of the goals put forth in the accords, such as eradicating extreme poverty, integrating Indigenous Guatemalans, and bolstering institutions, remain unfulfilled. Successive governments have struggled to strengthen the Guatemalan justice system to punish perpetrators of grave human rights abuses and massive corruption. Indigenous Guatemalans continue to face poverty and social exclusion. Guatemala's democratic institutions remain fragile, largely due to high levels of state capture by elites. Current President Bernardo Ardvalo, from the center-left Movimiento Semilla party, won Guatemala's 2023 presidential elections-capturing 58% of the vote- following a tumultuous election period marred by alleged irregularities and the disqualification of several leading candidates. Ardvalo's victory appears to have been driven by voters' frustrations with Guatemala's political establishment and widespread government corruption and impunity. Ardvalo ran on a progressive platform, pledging to combat graft and promote social inclusion. He has had trouble advancing his agenda, however, since Moviemiento Semilla has 23 of 160 seats in Guatemala's congress. Ar6valo also has had to contend with repeated legal challenges from the Office of Attorney General Marfa Consuelo Porras. Officials in that office engaged in legal maneuvers against Ardvalo throughout the election period, secured a court order to suspend Movimiento Semilla as a political party, and have sought to lift Ar6valo's immunity from prosecution. Since 2021, the United States has designated Porras and other top Guatemalan prosecutors for allegedly obstructing high-profile corruption investigations against some government officials. At least 36 prosecutors and judges, including many who worked with the U.S.- backed International Commission Against Corruption in Guatemala (CICIG, 2007-2019), have fled Guatemala since 2018. Others have been imprisoned. Ar6valo has filed criminal complaints against Porras for abuse of authority and has proposed legal reforms to remove the attorney general prior to the end of her term in 2026. Ar6valo also has sought to strengthen Guatemala's justice system by inviting an Organization of American States mission to observe the selection process for judges to be appointed by congress to the Supreme Court of Justice and the Court of Appeals for the 2024-2029 period. Current judges' terms are scheduled to end on October 13, 2024. Guatemala at a Glance Area: 42,000 square miles, about the size of Tennessee Population: 19.4 million (2024, IMF est.) Ethnic Composition: Mestizo (mixed Amerindian-Spanish; Ladino in local Spanish) 62.8%, Maya 34.9%, Xinka (Indigenous, non-Maya) 2.1%, Garifuna 0.1%, foreign 0.1% (2018 est., INE) Gross Domestic Product (GDP)/Per Capita GDP: $110.04 billion/$5,680 (2024, current prices, IMF est.) Key Import Partners: United States (30.3%), China (18.4%), Mexico (10.7%), El Salvador (3.4%) (2023, TDM) Key Export Partners: United States (30.9%), El Salvador (13.2%), Honduras (I 1.5%), Nicaragua (7.05%) (2023, TDM) Sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF); National Statistics Institute of Guatemala (INE); Trade Data Monitor (TDM). Economkc and Socda Conditions Guatemala has the largest economy in Central America, with an estimated gross domestic product (GDP) of $110 billion in 2024, according to the International Monetary Fund. Despite average real GDP growth of 3.5% per year over the past decade, more than 55% of the population and roughly 79% of Indigenous Guatemalans live in poverty, many in the Western highlands, from where many migrants from Guatemala originate. Guatemala's tax-to-GDP ratio, which at 14.4% was the fourth lowest in Latin America in 2022-severely limits the funds available for public services and investments.

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