Walter Mazariegos clears legal hurdles but awaits clearance for Usac rector post

Walter Mazariegos' re-election as rector of the University of San Carlos of Guatemala (Usac) for the 2026-2030 term remains mired in legal disputes and questions of legitimacy. His inauguration is scheduled for July 1, but his ability to take office is uncertain as he has not yet received financial clearance, known as a finiquito, from the Comptroller General's Office (CGC). Critics have deemed Mazariegos' election irregular, citing the Superior University Council's (CSU) alleged exclusion of opposition electoral bodies. This week, the First Chamber of the Administrative Litigation Court, acting as an Amparo Court, denied a provisional amparo requested by the collective Usac-Dire. The group sought to prevent the CSU from inaugurating Mazariegos. The court found that the legal prerequisites for granting provisional protection were not met. In a separate decision, an Appeals Court definitively suspended the processing of another amparo filed by Érick Gabriel Menéndez Avilés, who represented the State of Guatemala. This action had questioned various CSU procedures during the rector election, including candidate verification, electoral body accreditation, and the final declaration of Mazariegos' election. The court ruled that Menéndez Avilés lacked standing, as he did not demonstrate a personal, direct, or individualized grievance. Meanwhile, Usac workers held a second consecutive day of demonstrations supporting Mazariegos. They criticized the CGC for delaying his finiquito and for the complaints filed against him with the Public Ministry. The protests caused traffic disruptions near the university campus.