Who is watering the roots? Questions swirl around rapid growth of Guatemalan political committee

From Prensa Libre, Guatemala.

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the committee proformación Raíces has 20,782 adherents of the 28,083 needed to become a political party.

The rapid ascent of the Raíces committee towards becoming a political party has certainly raised eyebrows across the nation. While the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) confirms they are nearing the required number of adherents, the sheer speed of this growth is what truly stands out. In just two months, they've gone from a few thousand to over twenty thousand members. This isn't just a statistical anomaly; it begs the question of how such a feat is being accomplished.

As our reporting details, Raíces is affiliating new members at a rate that more than doubles that of its closest competitors. This level of activity requires a significant, organized effort: field promoters, transportation, printing, verification, and likely, incentives for citizens to dedicate their time. These are not negligible costs, and yet, no committee has publicly quantified them.

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In two months, it added 18 thousand affiliates. One can ask how they are managing to affiliate people so quickly, but the real question is: who is paying for it?

This lack of transparency is concerning. In Guatemalan politics, the formation of new parties is often a costly endeavor, a barrier that idealistic groups struggle to overcome. The question of 'who is paying for this?' is not just idle speculation; it's a fundamental inquiry into the sustainability and potential influences behind Raíces' campaign. Prensa Libre believes that in the lead-up to the 2027 elections, the public deserves clarity on how these political movements are financed. If these committees won't volunteer this information, perhaps it's time for a more direct inquiry.

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Raíces delivers between 30 and 50 sheets of membership forms each day.

We urge the committees involved to be transparent about the average cost of acquiring a new affiliate. This information is crucial for voters to understand the landscape and for those of us in the media to provide a more complete picture. Without this, the rapid growth of Raíces remains a mystery, one that could have significant implications for the future of our political system.

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To affiliate so many people daily requires field promoters, transportation, printing of forms, preliminary verification of CUI, departmental coordination, and probably, some incentive for the citizen to dedicate time to sign a membership form. That has a real cost.