On March 7, 2014 the Guatemalan Constitutional Court ruled to end Attorney General Claudia Paz y Paz’s term seven months prior to the December end of term date. Paz y Paz will now leave the role in May.
The Court has based their controversial decision on the Guatemalan constitution that they have interpreted to consider Paz y Paz’s term a fill-in assignment, rather than a full-term appointment. According to the Court, Paz y Paz has been serving out the remainder of a four-year term that began in May 2010 with the previous Attorney General, Arnulfo Conrado Reyes. The Court dismissed Conrado on charges of corruption and appointed Paz y Paz in December 2010.
The Court’s decision comes as a serious blow to the credibility of Guatemala’s justice system. The Court’s failure to respect the Guatemalan Constitution – which mandates a four-year term for the Attorney General – has raised serious concerns of corruption amongst international observers.
In a statement to the Court, Paz y Paz expressed “What is at stake here is not whether I continue in office for seven [more] months. It is not my term as a person; it is a constitutional term. What is at stake here is the validity of the constitution, the rule of law, democracy in Guatemala.” Paz y Paz has applied to be re-considered for the role.
Throughout her term Paz y Paz has been instrumental to shattering impunity in Guatemala. She has worked tirelessly to ensure perpetrators of mass human rights atrocities face accountability and justice for their crimes – including building the case against former President Efraín Ríos Montt.
LEARN MORE
“Guatemala’s Praised Attorney General To Step Down Under Controversy”, TruthOut, 17 March 2014.
“Attorney general out in May, says Guatemala court”, The Tico Times, 11 March 2014.
Meet Claudia Paz y Paz and learn more about her work to promote justice in Guatemala.