Guatemala's electoral tribunal approves new party formed by former government allies

Guatemala's Supreme Electoral Tribunal has officially approved Raíces, a new political party created by former members of Semilla, the group that carried Bernardo Arévalo de León to the presidency in 2023.

At least 10 Semilla lawmakers organized Raíces more than two years ago after a criminal judge suspended the governing party between 2023 and 2024. The article says Guatemalan law does not allow such a ruling to be issued unilaterally. Led by legislator Samuel Pérez Álvarez, the lawmakers created Raíces to compete in the 2027 elections.

The new party did not win the support of all 23 lawmakers elected under Semilla in 2023. Arévalo has also publicly distanced himself from the initiative. As a result, he currently has no political party to seek continuity for his government through another candidate in next year's elections.

The tribunal confirmed Raíces' registration in a notice published Monday in the official gazette. Guatemala will elect its president, mayors and lawmakers in 2027 for the 2028-2032 term. Arévalo's four-year presidential term ends in January 2028.

Semilla, a social democratic party born from anti-corruption protests a decade ago, remains suspended despite judicial proceedings over alleged irregularities in its creation never being proven, the article says. The party's suspension followed cases ordered by former Attorney General Consuelo Porras Argueta, who served from 2018 to 2024 and was sanctioned for corruption by the United States and European Union, as well as for allegedly attempting to unlawfully overturn Arévalo's inauguration.

Pérez Álvarez, a founder of both Semilla and Raíces, is joined by lawmakers including Andrea Villagrán, Román Castellanos, Andrea Reyes and Elena Motta. The party also has more than 20,000 members, as required by electoral rules.