On February 14, the election of the future authorities of the Bar Association and Notaries of Guatemala (CANG) was defined and this Thursday, March 20, they had to take possession. However, the outgoing directive communicated, one day before the command transmission, which will not deliver the charges.
For tomorrow, March 20, the inauguration of the new Board of Directors and the Court of Honor of the Professional College was planned. The first organ was won by the form led by Patricia Gámez, while the second by Alicia Franco.
This Tuesday, March 19 at 3:13 pm, a statement signed by Sherly Maldonado Vásquez, secretary of the Board of Directors of the Cang, reported on the decision not to renew the charges.
“As soon as the appeal raised by lawyers Diego Sagastume Vidaurre and Ricardo Sagastume Morales is not resolved, it is estimated to refrain from carrying out the transition proceedings and taking possession of the positions of the Board of Directors, Court of Honor and the members of the CANG Investment Advisory Committee for the period 2025-2027,” the document indicates.
Last Friday assumed the new Board of Directors of the Assembly of Presidents of Professional Colleges, the body responsible for resolving the appeal. However, the Assembly has remained silent and has not reported a possible date to know the case.
This body, which brings together all the presidents of the Professional Colleges, also includes Mario Siekavizza, current president of CANG, who, according to the statement, will not deliver the position this March 20 and will remain at the head of the school.
The arguments
The appeal presented by Sagastume Vidaurre indicates a series of errors in the voting of the Bar Association held on February 7 and 14, highlighting an apparent inconsistency in the certification of the call.
He also mentions alleged irregularities on the date of the second electoral round, held on February 14, and apparent illegalities in the results of three tables.
The appeal was admitted for processing and sent to the Assembly, but its members have not yet addressed the challenge, leaving in uncertainty the inauguration of the new school authorities.
The Board of Directors was won by Form 10, a group associated with the Semilla Movement Party, while the Court of Honor was obtained by form 4, linked to the former University of the University of San Carlos de Guatemala, Estuardo Gálvez.
So far, neither of the two forms has issued a pronouncement after the decision of the Board of Directors headed by Mario Siekavizza, who argues that the appeal prevents the delivery of the charges.
Ex -laws of the Bar Association have explained that an appeal has no suspensive effects, so the refusal to deliver the positions could lead to criminal responsibilities for outgoing managers.
Both Gámez and Franco, in their capacity as presidents of two CANG bodies, will have a voice and vote in the future application commission for attorney general. At the discretion of analysts, this dispute over the positions could be motivated by the control of said process. So far, neither form 4 nor the 10 have set an official position.
The current Board of Directors of the Mario Siekavizza Bar Association notified that the elected authorities will not give possession for a pending appeal. The notification is less than 24 hours than the new authorities, Alicia Franco and Patricia Gámez, will take possession. pic.twitter.com/4W1uloztyc
– Douglas Cuevas (@dcuevas_gtv) March 19, 2025