Analysis: In the fight to reduce presidential power to appoint the attorney general, the judges paid the price

In a move that significantly curtails the power of President Bernardo Arévalo, the Constitutional Court (CC) has effectively barred career judges from participating in the selection process for the Attorney General and other key judicial posts. This decision, made in 2026, echoes a similar ruling in 2022 where the CC issued a provisional injunction against judges' involvement, despite earlier precedents that affirmed their right to participate. The article criticizes this stance, labeling it as driven by "spurious motivations" and highlighting a pattern of excluding independent and honorable professionals. The current selection committee is accused of intentionally seeking to disqualify candidates with integrity, with five nominees facing serious questions regarding their political affiliations and subservience to powerful figures. The court's decision is seen as an attempt to manipulate the nomination process, ensuring that the president's choice for Attorney General is limited to a candidate favored by the current administration, such as Gabriel García Luna. The article laments the administrative annulment of Judge Marco Villeda's judicial record, which unfairly penalized him and other career judges, denying them the opportunity to compete for significant positions. This action, it argues, not only harms the judges involved but also inflicts long-term damage on the population and the country's institutions by potentially installing unqualified individuals in critical roles.