The performance of universities in the second-degree elections was questioned by observation groups who consider it necessary to reformulate the participation of the academy in these processes.
Current legislation grants universities responsibility in the integration of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE). The magistracy that took office last March will be in charge of coordinating the next two electoral events in Guatemala.
In the case of the appointment of magistrates for the Constitutional Court (CC), the Superior University Council (CSU) of the USAC is responsible for appointing one of the five holders and their alternate. The CSU elected the magistrates amid questions about lack of legitimacy and the shadow of alleged fraud in the election of the rector.
While 12 universities, including USAC, participate in the nomination commission that nominated the six candidates for attorney general.
The role of the academy has not met expectations, according to observation groups, which have detected the expression of political positions in the way in which some deans cast their votes, without privileging technical and ethical criteria to select the best profiles.
The degree of responsibility, in addition to being institutional for each university, falls particularly on the law deans who participate in the nomination committees, as well as the rectors who also participate in some of the second-degree election processes.
This 2026 coincides with the renewal of the TSE, CC, MP and the process of the Comptroller General of Accounts (CGC) is about to begin, four complex processes, which, according to experts, require changes.
Necessary reforms
For Mónica Marroquín, director of Guatemala Visible Programs, it is necessary to reform the way in which universities participate in second-degree elections, not as a type of limitation, but so that the processes have better processes.
For example, he considers it necessary that, at USAC, the only public university in the country, actions be taken to reform the CSU, an academic body that is accused of lack of legitimacy since some of its members remain in office despite having expired positions.
“This is to keep an eye on it, to call for internal processes to take place under legal parameters. It is not possible for an actor with so much impact to develop in the way it is doing,” he explained.
The observer’s statements emerged during a forum organized by the Foundation for the Development of Guatemala (Fundesa), which measured the challenges and opportunities for the second-degree elections.
But the Higher Private Education Council, which authorizes the new universities, also has to improve, according to Marroquín, so that there is better representation of the academy.
“There is talk that they have been created to occupy spaces in the application commissions, the standards must be evaluated to create new universities, they not only affect the applicants but also the higher education of future professionals,” Indian.
Few or zero graduates
Movimiento Projusticia is another of the observation organizations that closely monitor the second-degree elections, paying attention to the way in which new universities have been created in recent years.
“The incorporation of universities into the selection system for public positions, via the rectors and deans in the nominating commissions, was called to balance the proposal of candidates, adding to the process the weight of the academic and union sectors in the selection work,” indicates a report from the organization when it monitors the candidates for the Cortes for the period 2024-2029.
The data from said report explains how half of the universities with a law faculty did not graduate even 20 students in 2023, according to data obtained from the organization by the Supreme Court of Justice (CSJ).
- USAC – 801 graduates
- Da Vinci – 270 graduates
- UFM – 17 graduates
- UMG – 406 graduates
- Panamericana – 220 graduates
- URL – 130 graduates
- Rural University – 387 graduates
- UMES – 16 graduates
- University of the West – 1 graduate
- UNIS – 4 graduates
- Regional – No graduates
- Saint Paul – No graduates
The Projusticia Movement report explains that some universities may not have bachelor’s degrees, and that instead they could focus on master’s degrees and doctorates.
“It cannot be said that the participation of deans and rectors in second-degree elections constitutes the only great incentive that caused the creation of universities and faculties of law and legal sciences, or of sciences linked to auditing and public accounting; but, without a doubt, the nominating power is a great motivation, especially when there are political interests lurking within the owners and boards of directors,” indicates the report.
The second degree elections are governed by the Law of Nomination Commissions, which according to data from Guatemala Visible, 12 proposals for reforms are brought together in Congress, some seeking internal changes and others that suggest redoing the entire law.