A second provisional injunction suspended the reelection of Walter Mazariegos as rector of the University of San Carlos of Guatemala (Usac), in a ruling that coincides with another issued hours before and that keeps the university electoral process in uncertainty, official sources reported this Tuesday, May 5.
The Eleventh Pluripersonal Court of First Instance Civil of Guatemala, constituted as an Amparo Court, decided to provisionally suspend the election held on April 8, 2026, as well as its approval by the Higher University Council (CSU).
The ruling leaves in suspense:
- The election of Mazariegos as rector for the period 2026-2030
- The approval of the process by the CSU, contained in point 3.5 of Minute 10-2026
Like the first protection granted hours before, this resolution coincides with suspending the election and its endorsement by the CSU; However, it is a different process, filed before another court.
The resolution establishes that the claimed act falls within the assumptions of article 28 of the Amparo Law, for which the provisional suspension is decreed while the merits of the case are analyzed.
This ruling is added to that issued by the Fifteenth Pluripersonal Court of First Instance Civil, which also suspended the process after an action promoted by the Usac-Dire movement, which questions the integration of the electoral body.
Both courts granted a 48-hour hearing to the parties to rule on the case.
Usac position
The University of San Carlos of Guatemala reported that its Legal Affairs Directorate was notified of the provisional protection that suspends the election of the rector.
The university questioned the procedure by which the action was resolved and pointed out that it has filed complaints and complaints because the case was heard by a court of first instance.
Background
Mazariegos’ re-election was approved on April 17, 2026 by the CSU with 22 votes in favor, nine against and two abstentions.
The process took place amid questions, similar to those that arose in 2022, when Mazariegos took office amid complaints of irregularities in the election.
The takeover was scheduled for July 1, 2026, according to information from Guatemala Visible.
Walter Mazariegos receives another judicial setback. A second injunction once again leaves his re-election as rector of the USAC and the validation of the electoral results made by the CSU on hold. USAC opposition groups describe his re-election as an imposition and a fraud. pic.twitter.com/bviDAHjEl0
—Douglas Cuevas (@dcuevas_pl) May 5, 2026
*Stay up to date with the Now newsletter. Key information at the moment it happens. Subscribe here.