Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy

Working without light or electricity, the Congress of Guatemala approved an amendment to the law regulating Congress. The decision was taken in the dark as angry congressional employees cut off the electricity for fear the new legislation would threaten their jobs. 

The approval of the legislation is a crucial step forward in the improved working of Congress. During the past year the Congress in Guatemala has come under fierce attack as a result of a monumental corruption scandal. Some 8 million euros have yet to be recovered and two former presidents of Congress are facing penal prosecution.

Deciding on the new Rules and Regulations of Congress as a matter of national urgency, members of Congress are keen to show they take the matter seriously and are serious in their attempt to improve both the running of Congress – and its reputation.

The new legislation includes the following changes:

• A division between the administrative and political functions of Congress;
   
• Improved transparency in the administration of Congress;
   
• Enhanced access to information for citizens;
   
• The revision of all existing contractual arrangements including a maximum number of staff assisting members of Congress;
   
• The commitment to establish administrative procedures and human resources guidelines;
   
• Inclusion of issues related to transparency and ethics of the Congress and other legislative organs such as the obligation for members of Congress to write reports on foreign missions and publish them on the Congress website;

According to Ricardo Gomez, former president of the Congress and now NIMD consultant, ¨these reforms are the start of a cycle of even more improvements and support the institutional strengthening of Congress¨. Gomez ads that it is of equal importance to continue to strengthen the political parties, ¨because we cannot have a first class Congress without first class political parties¨.

NIMD's commitment

The NIMD team working in Congress, coordinated by Gustavo Porras, facilitated the drafting of the new law by making available legislation and expertise from different countries, including from the Dutch Parliament, and, by sensitizing members of Congress to the importance of the issue. NIMD’s over-arching commitment in Guatemala is to the strengthening of the multiparty system. Supporting Congress in this endeavor for more efficiency, transparency and accountability is one more concrete effort in the right direction.
 

visit www.nimd.org.gt