A court suspended the election of Walter Ramiro Mazariegos Biolis as rector of the University of San Carlos of Guatemala (Usac) for the period 2026-2030, after granting a provisional protection that questions the integration of an electoral body similar to the official. The legal action was brought by the legal team of the Usac-Dire movement.
The resolution of the Fifteenth Pluripersonal Court of First Instance Civil of Guatemala, constituted as the Amparo Court, establishes that the measure is adopted because it is considered advisable to suspend the claimed act while the constitutional action is being processed.
The ruling states: “Provisional protection is decreed, leaving the claimed act in suspension during the processing of this constitutional protection action.”
The claimed act includes:
- The election of Walter Ramiro Mazariegos Biolis as rector of the Usac for the period 2026-2030
- The approval made by the Higher University Council (CSU), through point 3.5 of Minute 10-2026
According to the judicial document presented, the election was held on April 8, 2026 in Antigua Guatemala, behind closed doors and without the participation of several electoral bodies.
The court also granted a 48-hour hearing to the parties and the Public Ministry, through the Prosecutor’s Office for Constitutional Affairs, to rule on the case.
The re-election of Mazariegos as rector of Usac marks the continuity of his management at the head of the country’s public university. The process was developed in a context similar to that of its initial election in 2022, which was questioned by student sectors, teachers and analysts.
The figure of Mazariegos gained notoriety in 2022, when he took office amid accusations of alleged irregularities in the university electoral process.
Since then, his administration has been under constant scrutiny within the Sancarlista community and national organizations. In the current context of the country, international political observers have also joined in requesting transparency and appropriateness in these electoral processes.
On April 17, 2026, the majority of the members of the Higher University Council (CSU) approved the reelection of Mazariegos as rector of the Usac for the period 2026-2030.
According to information from Guatemala Visible, Mazariegos’ inauguration was scheduled for July 1.
The vote to approve the reelection was as follows: 22 votes in favor, nine against and two abstentions. 33 counselors participated.
Prior to approving the re-election, the Legal Affairs Directorate of the USAC ruled to reject in limine an appeal for review presented by agronomist Gesly Aníbal Bonilla Landaverry against the re-election of Mazariegos.
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