Guatemala's Attorney General Selection in Jeopardy

Guatemala's Constitutional Court has paused the selection of the nation's next attorney general, calling for a thorough revision of the finalist list. This move puts the initial list of six candidates, chosen by a commission of jurists, in jeopardy. Notably missing from this list is current Attorney General Consuelo Porras, known for being sanctioned by international governments.

The court's ruling mandates the commission to re-evaluate the scores of all applicants who previously served as judges and assign accurate scores reflecting their qualifications. The court emphasized that time served as a judge does not contribute to the required experience needed for the position, potentially reshuffling candidate rankings.

The omission of Porras from the shortlist drew significant attention. Porras has faced sanctions from the U.S., Canada, and the European Union for allegations involving corruption and rights violations. President Bernardo Arevalo, a key opponent of Porras, is under tight deadlines to manage the list after the court ruling.