Walter Mazariegos overcomes new legal appeals, but still awaits the settlement of the CGC

Home News Walter Mazariegos overcomes new legal appeals, but still awaits the settlement of the CGC
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June 26, 2026June 26, 2026By Mario Vásquez
Walter Mazariegos overcomes new legal appeals, but still awaits the settlement of the CGC

The re-election of Walter Mazariegos as rector of the University of San Carlos de Guatemala (Usac) for the period 2026-2030 continues amid questions and judicial processes. Although the inauguration is scheduled for July 1, doubts remain about whether it can be completed because the official still does not have the approval of the Comptroller General of Accounts (CGC).

The election of Mazariegos has been described as irregular by opposition sectors, who maintain that the Higher University Council (CSU) prevented the participation of opposition electoral bodies during the process.

This Friday, June 26, the First Chamber of the Administrative Litigation Court, constituted as the Amparo Court, decided not to grant a provisional protection promoted by the Usac-Dire collective, which sought to prevent the CSU from giving possession to Mazariegos on July 1.

The Chamber indicated that, after analyzing the file and the detailed report presented by the aforementioned authority, the requirements established in article 28, paragraph b) of the Amparo Law to grant provisional protection were not met.

The file had initially been assigned to another Chamber, which subsequently sent it to the First Chamber. Members of Usac-Dire have indicated that the latter maintains an affinity with Mazariegos.

Another protection was also rejected

In a different resolution, an Appeals chamber definitively suspended the processing of an amparo filed by Érick Gabriel Menéndez Avilés, who acted on behalf of the State of Guatemala by delegation of the Attorney General’s Office (PGN).

The action questioned various actions of the CSU during the election of the rector for the period 2026-2030, including the verification of candidate requirements, the exclusion and accreditation of electoral bodies, the integration of the University Electoral Body, the existence of a quorum and the declaration of Mazariegos’ election.

The court concluded that the plaintiff lacked active standing to seek protection, because he did not prove a personal, direct and individualized grievance. Furthermore, it considered that the allegations raised were broad and imprecise, which is why it declared the action inadmissible and ordered the file to be archived.

Following the resolution, the Attorney General’s Office (PGN) appealed to the Constitutional Court (CC) the suspension of the protection, with the aim of the highest court reactivating the action and hearing the merits of the case related to the session of the Higher University Council (CSU) in which Walter Mazariegos was declared rector of the Usac for the period 2026-2030.

Demonstration in support of the rector

While the legal actions continue, USAC workers held a demonstration for the second consecutive day in support of Mazariegos and criticized the Comptroller General of Accounts for keeping the rector’s settlement pending and for the complaints filed against him before the Public Ministry.

Amílcar Montejo, director of Communication at Emetra, reported that more than 100 people gathered on Petapa Avenue and 32 Street, zone 12, where they blocked both directions of the road in front of the university campus.

As alternative routes, he recommended using the Periférico to the La Reformita neighborhood and the Atanasio Tzul road.

A person who was at the scene indicated that, for a few moments, the protesters blocked all lanes and later entered the university campus. He added that some people could not enter because they were asked for a university card and they were told that this measure was due to provisions implemented three months ago.

Deputy requests to expedite investigations

In parallel, deputy José Chic presented a request to the Public Ministry to expedite investigations against Walter Mazariegos and members of the Higher University Council related to alleged irregularities in the election of the rector and the management of USAC funds.

According to the petition, the investigations must be carried out independently, impartially and quickly.

The situation maintains uncertainty regarding the inauguration scheduled for July 1, because Mazariegos still does not have the settlement issued by the Comptroller General of Accounts, a requirement whose absence has raised doubts about the viability of him assuming a new period at the head of the university.

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