Hooded men who identified themselves as USAC students blocked the Aguilar Batres road, as part of a rejection measure against the rector Walter Mazariegos, who will seek a new mandate on July 1.
Traffic authorities report that the group of protesters placed tires at the height of 29th street in zone 12, forcing drivers to take alternate routes.
Walter Mazariegos was re-elected as rector on April 8 of this year in Antigua Guatemala, in a voting event where the largest number of opposition voters who questioned his continuity were excluded.
But the Higher University Council (CSU) decided not to accredit the largest number of opponents, which put the balance on the side of the rector who managed to be declared re-elected for a new four-year period.
“We worthy students today demand nothing more and nothing less the right to have an in-person, public, dignified education for all Guatemalans. Currently the narco-usurper Walter Mazariegos has taken over the USAC facilities,” declared one of the protesters.
The man did not want to identify himself, and with his face covered, he indicated that more actions will come but that they need the support of the citizens, “all instances of the Guatemalan government have already failed.”
The blockade caused the service of line 12 of the Transmetro to be affected, affecting the stations from Trébol Norte to Plaza Municipal, as reported on his social networks by Amílcar Montejo, head of communication at Emetra.
They check vehicles
Opposition groups to Mazariegos also reported that, at the entrance to the USAC Central Campus, in zone 12, security controls were reinforced.
Reports indicate that each driver seeking to enter USAC is being asked to open the trunk of their vehicle, while university security personnel conduct an inspection.
Currently, USAC does not have in-person classes due to measures that the CSU established within the framework of the rector election, citing work on the central campus.
Those who are arriving in person are the workers of the study house, who last week staged demonstrations in support of the rector Walter Mazariegos.
Without settlement
To date, Walter Mazariegos maintains 17 complaints before the Public Ministry (MP), including allegations made by the Comptroller General of Accounts (CGC).
These complaints mean that Mazariegos does not have a settlement from the moment he was a candidate for the rectorship of the USAC on April 8, which in the opinion of opposition groups made him ineligible to participate.
But despite this requirement, the university authorities ignored the requirement, giving way to his re-election, but now, one day after having to take office, Mazariegos does not have the document issued by the CGC.
To qualify for the position, according to the analysis of different lawyers, it is necessary for Mazariegos to prove that he has a final settlement, otherwise he would not be able to take office for the period 2026-2030.
Some analysts consider that Mazariegos will seek to force the CGC to issue the settlement through an amparo, but also a reform of the USAC regulations will strengthen the continuity of the rector.
The regulation that was modified in 2025 states that if there is no legitimately elected substitute, the university authority or representative will continue in office, a rule to which the position of rector is not alien, which in one way or another strengthens the continuity of Mazariegos in office.