Awareness
Without debate or transparency, the deputies increased the salary without justification or accountability.
In 2023, a free press survey made it clear that nine out of 10 Guatemalans did not trust Congress, placing it in the last place of the State. A year later, completely ignoring that perception, the deputies increased their entry from Q29 thousand 150 to Q66 thousand 300 per month, almost quintuplica its base salary of Q9 thousand 550 to Q46 thousand 700. Additional, the Q5 thousand in “representation expenses”, Q9 thousand 600 in “plenary diets” and Q5 thousand in “commission diets” are maintained. All this, of course, without consulting the population’s backs.
In September of last year, there was a first attempt to upload the salary through a reform to the Organic Law of the Legislative Agency, but given the public rejection they only paused. Then they found another route, approve it in their 2025 budget (Legislative Agreement 31-2024) without public debate, late at night and opaque.
This increase does not obey merits, or good performance. According to the alliance for an efficient congress, of the 38 initiatives that gave rise to the 36 decrees approved in 2024, most lacked technical, financial studies and documentary support. The Plenary of Congress session 66 times, with an average participation of 84%, but when measuring their work commissions it is evident that many deputies do not regularly attend the sessions. For example, the Economy Commission made 43% of its sessions without the quorum necessary to vote, which reflects a low level of commitment.
The increase that deputies were approved is perceived as a betrayal and an insult to citizens.
The fallacious argument of the deputies to match their income to the Sala magistrates lacks all coherence. To be a magistrate, it is necessary to be a professional with specialization, years of experience, undergo a selection process and provide a face -to -face work. On the other hand, to be a deputy, it is enough to be 18 years old and be postulated by a political party, without the need for academic training or professional career, less to be evaluated.
Not satisfied with the increase, they tried to aggravate compensation at the end of their period, which would have guaranteed a millionaire income when leaving office. The Constitutional Court (CC) suspended such a provision through a provisional protection against Legislative Agreement 31-2024, considering that deputies are not employed subject to an ordinary employment relationship and, therefore, have no right to compensation, since their position is of popular election and their period has a defined limit.
Regarding the salary increase, the CC granted a provisional protection and established that this change required a subsequent budget approval by the Plenary of the Congress, but the Board of Directors executed it without voting it, which has generated questions and more legal actions. The financial impact of this decision is considerable. Calculations carried out by the Alliance for an efficient Congress indicate that Congress will need Q43.75 million per year to cover the increase. Beyond the economic cost, the underlying problem is the precedent established. The deputies have shown that they can modify their own income without accountability to anyone, which aggravates the crisis of trust in Parliament.
Paradoxically, the deputies have historically held the title of “Dignitaries of the Nation”, but this investiture represents a merit that distinguishes, something that deserves, a matter of honor. Instead of focusing on improving their legislative work, they have prioritized their own salary increase, even when their performance says otherwise. The issue is no longer only if the deputies should receive an increase, but who should define how much they earn and under what criteria. There are currently several resolutions by the CC in this regard; However, citizens should give a resounding not to the situation. Today they did it without paying or measuring consequences. If they have the power to raise their salary without control, what are the limits? How are they stopped? How long?