Two members of the Latin American Presidential Mission, former Presidents Vinicio Cerezo of Guatemala and Carlos Mesa of Bolivia, met with Guatemalan political leaders on June 11, 2015, to discuss solutions and institutional responses to a political crisis that has caused public outrage and filled the central square in Guatemala City with thousands of protesters demanding the resignation of top authorities.

Former Guatemalan President Vinicio Cerezo (fourth from left) and former Bolivian President Carlos Mesa (fourth from right) meet with Guatemalan leaders.

Guatemala is passing through the most challenging political and institutional crisis of the last 20 years. The legitimacy of the authorities is being severely questioned and several cases of corruption involving public officials and businessmen have been brought to light in recent months. Guatemala’s Vice President was forced to resign after being linked to a case of customs fraud involving his private secretary.

The crisis is enflaming the political environment before the country’s general elections, which are scheduled for September 2015.

Speaking at the ceremony of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal, President Mesa called on the leading political figures to show statesmanship and a commitment to strengthen democracy in response to an increasingly demanding public. President Mesa also participated as a witness of honor at the signing of the “Ethics Pact of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal” for the 2015 General Elections in Guatemala.

The Latin American Presidential Mission is an initiative of the Global Peace Foundation. It was launched in 2012 during the Global Peace Convention in Atlanta, USA to advance economic development, political reform, and greater North-South cooperation and integration.