Two provisional protections seek to stop the effects of the declaration of re-election of Walter Mazariegos as rector of the University of San Carlos of Guatemala (Usac) for the period 2026-2030, whose replacement is scheduled for next July 1, 2026.
Edwin Orozcolawyer on the legal team of the Usac DIRE groupexplained that the Eleventh and Fifteenth Courts of First Civil Instance know two constitutional actions for protection related to the event held on April 8 in Antigua Guatemaladate on which the Commission of the University Electoral Body (CEU) declared Mazariegos elected.
“Everything that has been done has been put on hold due to these two provisional protections”stated the lawyer, who explained that both legal actions continue to advance and could end up under analysis by the Constitutional Court (CC).
As indicated, this means that “the election by court orders has been suspended for the moment”although he clarified that the process has not yet concluded because the resolutions can be appealed and the judges still need to issue a final ruling on the merits of the case.
Orozco pointed out that appeals for provisional protection “do not imply that the protection process stops, on the contrary, the process continues” until all procedural stages are exhausted and the judges determine “if the election as such is suspended.”
He also explained that they consider it likely that the aforementioned authorities have already appealed the provisional protections before the CC, although until now they have not been officially notified.
However, the legal department of the University publicly assured that has already presented the corresponding legal resources against the resolutions issued.
Comptroller and PGN support
Within the judicial process, the Comptroller General of Accounts (CGC) and the Attorney General’s Office (PGN) They were notified as interested third parties and recently evacuated the hearings granted by the courts.
According to the lawyer, both institutions requested that they be granted definitively. “The Comptroller General of Accounts and the Attorney General’s Office have requested that the constitutional action for protection be declared admissible,” he pointed out.
The CGC confirmed that it acted as an interested third party within the amparo and argued that the indicated person “does not have the Temporary Certificate of Non-existence of Claim of Charges (settlement), due to having complaints against him.”
Furthermore, he indicated that the CC has issued rulings establishing that said document is a requirement for a person to apply for public office.
Separately, the PGN highlighted that it was notified within the two files and that it supports the amparistas so that the resources are declared admissible.
The institution argued that the State must guarantee “the right to democratic participation, the principle of legality and constitutional supremacy, the right to higher education and its public function, the right to defense and due process”.
The process and other protections
Orozco explained that, in addition to the two provisional protections already granted, there are about 20 legal actions related to different stages of the university electoral process.
Among them, he mentioned appeals against decisions of the Higher University Council (CSU) related to the exclusion of electoral bodies and the admission of recall appeals against elections of student representatives.
As he explained, some of these actions could result in the repetition of elections in certain university sectors if they are declared to take place. Currently these cases have not advanced due to unforeseen events declared in the judiciaries, but in his opinion they could be heard next week.
The process of electing the rector at Usac has been marked by challenges, questions and judicial disputes from different university groups and actors linked to the institution.
While some sectors defend the legality of the actions of the CSU and the electoral process, others maintain that there were arbitrariness and irregular exclusions within the integration of the electoral body.
Usac public position
So far, it has not been possible to obtain a direct position from the university authorities through the channels set up for journalists.
The institutional response has been limited to publications on social networks and official statements released by the university.
In a video published on May 5, 2026, the Deputy Director of Legal Affairs of the Usac, Ana Lucía Recinosassured that the university was notified of a provisional resolution related to the electoral process.
“The Directorate of Legal Affairs was notified of a provisional resolution related to the process and acts linked to the election of the rector of this House of Higher Studies”he indicated.
He also stated that the resolutions suspend acts carried out by the CSU, although he maintained that said body “was not notified nor is it part of the protection process,” which, he said, “prevented the right to defense from being exercised.”
Recinos also questioned the jurisdiction of the Fifteenth Pluripersonal Court of First Instance Civil to hear the case and pointed out that the university presented legal appeals and complaints related to the resolutions issued.
“The University of San Carlos de Guatemala reaffirms its commitment to defending university autonomy and strict compliance with the law,” he said.
Until now, Mazariegos has not spoken directly publicly about the questions raised regarding the electoral process and the protections in process.