Guatemala’s president replaces attorney general after years-long struggle

Guatemala’s Arévalo Appoints New Attorney General, Ending Contentious Battle with Porras

Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo appointed lawyer Gabriel Estuardo García Luna as the country’s new attorney general on Tuesday, concluding a lengthy and bitter struggle with outgoing prosecutor Consuelo Porras, whose office had repeatedly attempted to prevent Arévalo from taking office.

The appointment marks a significant victory for the anti-corruption progressive president who has frequently accused prosecutors of corrupting Guatemala’s justice system and making politically motivated arrests against opponents.

“The Public Ministry is getting a new authority who does not come to serve a president, the government of the day, or particular or spurious political interests,” Arévalo stated during a national address announcing the appointment, which takes effect May 17 when Porras’ term ends.

García Luna, 49, brings 22 years of professional experience to the role and holds doctoral-level legal studies. Arévalo selected him from a shortlist of six candidates submitted by a nominating commission comprised of the Supreme Court president, law school deans from across the country, and representatives from the national bar association. The commission had reviewed 48 applications before narrowing down their recommendations.

The appointment comes after a tumultuous period in which Porras had become a deeply controversial figure in Guatemalan politics. She has been sanctioned by 40 countries for allegedly obstructing anti-corruption efforts, with critics accusing her of weaponizing the prosecutor’s office against political opponents, journalists, former justice officials, and even President Arévalo himself.

Since Arévalo’s election victory last year, Porras’ office has aggressively pursued his Seed Movement party, claiming irregularities in how it gathered signatures to register as a political entity. Her investigators raided party offices, seized and opened ballot boxes, and made multiple attempts to strip the president of his immunity from prosecution.

Arévalo has maintained that Porras was acting to protect powerful corrupt interests in Guatemala who feared his campaign promise to root out endemic corruption in the country’s institutions.

In Guatemala’s political system, the attorney general operates independently from the executive branch, meaning presidents can find themselves working alongside hostile chief law enforcement officers. This institutional arrangement has created significant governance challenges, particularly when the office becomes embroiled in political conflicts.

The prosecution service has faced allegations of corruption for years, with Porras’ tenure bringing international scrutiny to the institution. The United States and European nations have been particularly critical of her actions, viewing them as detrimental to democratic processes and the rule of law in Guatemala.

The transition to García Luna’s leadership represents an opportunity to restore credibility to the Public Ministry, which has suffered reputational damage during Porras’ controversial tenure. Observers will be watching closely to see whether the office can regain public trust and operate with the independence and integrity expected of a national prosecution service.

For Arévalo, who campaigned on promises of institutional reform and anti-corruption measures, having a prosecutor who is not actively working against his administration could prove crucial to advancing his policy agenda. His administration has faced significant resistance from entrenched political and economic interests since taking office.

The appointment comes at a critical juncture for Guatemala, as the country continues to grapple with challenges including high poverty rates, violence, and migration pressures, all exacerbated by institutional corruption that has hampered effective governance for decades.