AmericasGuatemalan Congress refuses to appoint graft-fighting top judge
Sofia Menchu
4 minutes read
Guatemala s Congress refused to appoint a graft-fighting judge as president of the Constitutional Court on Tuesday, a move critics say could set back the fight against corruption.
Magistrate Gloria Porras is one of Central America s leading figures in the fight for the rule of law and efforts to combat impunity. However, she has long drawn the ire of some politicians and business groups for decisions at the court they consider to be anti-investment.
Over her decade on the bench, Porras voted against the expulsion of a U.N.-backed anti-corruption body; against the decision to vacate ex-dictator EfraÃn Rios Montt s genocide conviction; and in favor of the rights of indigenous people to be consulted about extractive projects built in their territory.
4 Min Read
GUATEMALA CITY (Reuters) - Guatemala’s Congress refused to appoint a graft-fighting judge as president of the Constitutional Court on Tuesday, a move critics say could set back the fight against corruption.
Magistrate Gloria Porras is one of Central America’s leading figures in the fight for the rule of law and efforts to combat impunity. However, she has long drawn the ire of some politicians and business groups for decisions at the court they consider to be anti-investment.
Over her decade on the bench, Porras voted against the expulsion of a U.N.-backed anti-corruption body; against the decision to vacate ex-dictator Efraín Rios Montt’s genocide conviction; and in favor of the rights of indigenous people to be consulted about extractive projects built in their territory.
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Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for the Western Hemisphere Juan Gonzalez and Department of State Acting Assistant Secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs Julie Chung will travel April 11 to 15 to Colombia, Argentina, and Uruguay to engage with government officials. In Bogota, they will discuss economic recovery, security and rural development, the Venezuelan migrant crisis, and Colombia’s regional climate leadership. In Argentina and Uruguay, they will discuss regional priorities, including addressing the challenges of the climate crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic and threats to democracy, human rights, and security in our hemisphere and around the world.
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April 09, 2021 • Press Briefings
Date Time
Acting Assistant Secretary Chung Travels to Colombia, Argentina, and Uruguay
Acting Assistant Secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs Julie Chung will accompany Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for the Western Hemisphere at the National Security Council Juan Gonzalez on travel to Colombia, Argentina, and Uruguay, April 11-15, to engage with government officials. In Bogota, they will discuss economic recovery, security and rural development, the Venezuelan migrant crisis, and Colombia’s regional climate leadership. In Argentina and Uruguay, they will discuss regional priorities, including addressing the challenges of the climate crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic and threats to democracy, human rights, and security in our hemisphere and around the world.