President of Guatemala

The president of Guatemala (Spanish: Presidente de Guatemala), officially titled President of the Republic of Guatemala (Spanish: Presidente de la República de Guatemala), is the head of state and head of government of Guatemala, elected to a single four-year term. The position of President was created in 1839.

President of the
Republic of Guatemala
Presidente de la República de Guatemala
since 15 January 2024
Office of the President of Guatemala
National Security Council
StyleMost Excellent Mr. President of the Republic
(official)
Mr. President
(informal)
StatusHead of state
Head of government
Member ofCabinet
ResidenceCasa Crema
SeatGuatemala City
AppointerSupreme Electoral Court
Term lengthFour years, non-renewable
Constituting instrumentGuatemalan Constitution
Inaugural holderMariano Rivera Paz
Formation3 December 1839
(184 years ago)
 (1839-12-03)
DeputyVice President of Guatemala
Salary146,950 GTQ monthly
($18,863 as of May 2023)[1]
Websitewww.presidencia.gob.gt

Selection process

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Eligibility

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Article 185 of the Constitution, sets the following requirements to qualify for the presidency:

  • be Guatemalan of origin who is a citizen in good standing;
  • be at least 40 years old.

A person who meets the above qualifications would, however, still be disqualified from holding the office of president if the individual:

  • Was the leader or the head of a coup d'état, armed revolution, or similar movement, that had altered the constitutional order, and as a result of their actions became the Head of Government;
  • Exercised the role of President or Vice President during an election, or at any point within the presidential period in which elections are conducted.
  • Are relatives of the incumbent president or vice president prior to the succeeding election;
  • Served as a Minister within the government, for any time in the six months before the election;
  • Served as a member of the Armed Forces unless they are on leave or have been in retirement for at least five years before the election;
  • Are ministers of any religion or cult;
  • Are magistrates of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal.

Term Limit

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The President serves a four-year term and is prohibited from seeking re-election or extending their tenure. Moreover, a person who held the position of president for more than two years is barred from running for office again.

Executive powers

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Article 183 of the Constitution, confers the following duties and competencies to the president:

  • Comply with and enforce the Constitution and laws.
  • Provide the defense and security of the Nation, as well as the preservation of public order.
  • Exercise the command of the Armed Forces of Guatemala with all the respective functions and attributions.
  • Exercise the command of the National Police.
  • Approve, promulgate, execute and enforce laws.
  • Dictate the provisions that are necessary in cases of serious emergency or public calamity, having to report to the Congress in its immediate sessions.
  • Submit proposals of laws to the Congress.
  • Exercise the right of veto with respect to the laws issued by the Congress, except in cases in which it is not necessary to sanction the executive branch in accordance with the Constitution.
  • Present annually to the Congress, at the beginning of its session, written report on the general situation of the Republic and of the business of its administration carried out during the previous year.
  • Submit annually to the Congress, for approval with no less than one hundred and twenty days prior to the date on which the fiscal year begins, through the Ministry of Public Finance, the draft budget that contains in detail the income and expenditures of the State. If the Congress is not in session, it must hold extraordinary sessions to hear about the project.
  • Submit for consideration of the Congress for approval, and before ratification, treaties and conventions of international character and contracts and concessions on public services.
  • To summon the Legislative Organism to extraordinary sessions when the interests of the Republic demand it.
  • Coordinate the development policy of the Nation through the Council of Ministers.
  • Preside over the Council of Ministers and exercise the function of hierarchical superior of the officials and employees of the Executive Organism.
  • Maintain the territorial integrity and dignity of the Nation.
  • Direct foreign policy and international relations, pronounce, ratify and denounce treaties and agreements in accordance with the Constitution.
  • Receive the diplomatic representatives, as well as issue and withdraw the exequatur to the patents of the consuls.
  • Administer public finances in accordance with the law.
  • Exonerate of fines and surcharges to the taxpayers who have incurred in them for not covering the taxes within the legal terms for acts or omissions in the administrative order.
  • Appoint and remove ministers of state, deputy ministers, secretaries and undersecretaries of the presidency, ambassadors and other officials that correspond to it according to the law.
  • Grant premiums, pensions and subsidies in accordance with the Law.
  • Award decorations to Guatemalans and foreigners.
  • Within the fifteen days following its conclusion, inform the Congress about the purpose of any trip that has taken place outside the national territory and about the results thereof.
  • Submit every four months to the Congress through the respective ministry an analytical report on the budget execution, for its knowledge and control.
  • Exercise all other functions assigned by the Constitution or the law.

Vacancies and succession

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Article 189 of the Constitution establishes the presidential line of succession. If the president is temporarily absent, the vice president takes over the presidency. If the absence of the President is permanent, the vice president holds the presidency until the end of the constitutional period. In the event of a double vacancy, Congress has the authority to designate an acting president by a vote of two-thirds of the total number of deputies.

Presidents of Guatemala

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Note: Regarding the numbering of the terms, several reliable sources state that Jimmy Morales is the 50th president[2][3][4]

State of Guatemala (1839–1847)

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No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)
Term of office Political party Elected
Took office Left office Time in office
1   Mariano Rivera Paz
(1804–1849)
3 December 1839 25 February 1842 2 years, 84 days Conservative
2   José Venancio López
(1791–1863)
Acting
25 February 1842 14 May 1842 78 days Independent
3   Mariano Rivera Paz
(1804–1849)
14 May 1842 14 December 1844 2 years, 214 days Conservative
4   Rafael Carrera
(1814–1865)
14 December 1844 16 August 1848 3 years, 246 days Conservative

Republic from Carrera to the Liberal Revolution (1847–1871)

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No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)
Term of office Political party Elected
Took office Left office Time in office
4   Rafael Carrera
(1814–1865)
14 December 1844 16 August 1848 3 years, 246 days Conservative
5   Juan Antonio Martínez
(?–1854)
Acting
16 August 1848 28 November 1848 104 days Conservative
6   José Bernardo Escobar
(1797–1849)
Acting
28 November 1848 1 January 1849 34 days Conservative
7   Mariano Paredes
(1800–1856)
Acting
1 January 1849 6 November 1851 2 years, 309 days Independent
8   Rafael Carrera
(1814–1865)
6 November 1851 14 April 1865 13 years, 159 days Conservative
9   Pedro de Aycinena y Piñol
(1802–1897)
Acting
14 April 1865 24 May 1865 40 days Conservative
10   Vicente Cerna Sandoval
(1815–1885)
24 May 1865 29 June 1871 6 years, 36 days Conservative

Liberal period (1871–1944)

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No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)
Term of office Political party Elected
Took office Left office Time in office
11   Miguel García Granados
(1809–1878)
29 June 1871 4 June 1873 1 year, 340 days Liberal
12   Justo Rufino Barrios
(1835–1885)
4 June 1873 2 April 1885 11 years, 302 days Liberal 1873
1880
13   Alejandro M. Sinibaldi
(1825–1896)
Acting
2 April 1885 5 April 1885 3 days Liberal
14   Manuel Barillas
(1845–1907)
6 April 1885 15 March 1892 6 years, 345 days Liberal
15   José María Reina Barrios
(1854–1898)
15 March 1892 8 February 1898 5 years, 330 days Liberal 1892
16   Manuel Estrada Cabrera
(1857–1924)
8 February 1898 15 April 1920 22 years, 67 days Liberal 1898
1904
1910
1916
17   Carlos Herrera
(1856–1930)
15 April 1920 10 December 1921 1 year, 239 days Unionist Party 1920 (Apr)
1920 (Aug)
18   José María Orellana
(1872–1926)
10 December 1921 26 September 1926 4 years, 290 days Liberal 1921
1922
19   Lázaro Chacón González
(1873–1931)
26 September 1926 12 December 1930 4 years, 77 days Unionist Party 1926
  Baudilio Palma
(1880–1930)
Acting
13 December 1930 17 December 1930 4 days Conservative
  Manuel María Orellana Contreras
(1870–1940)
De facto
17 December 1930 2 January 1931 16 days Liberal
20   José María Reina Andrade
(1860–1947)
Acting
2 January 1931 14 February 1931 43 days Liberal
21   Jorge Ubico
(1878–1946)
14 February 1931 1 July 1944 13 years, 138 days Progressive Liberal Party 1931
22   Juan Federico Ponce Vaides
(1889–1956)
Acting
1 July 1944 20 October 1944 111 days Progressive Liberal Party

Ten-Year Revolution (1944–1954)

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The authoritarian regime of Jorge Ubico, which persisted since 1931, was overthrown by a revolution known as the  "Ten Years of Spring" on 4 July 1944. After more than a month of mass student and trade union protests, Ubico resigned and fled to Mexico, transferring powers to his First DeputyFederico Ponce Vaides. Presidential elections were held on 4 July 1944, which declared Ponce as the president. However, the opposition rejected the results, and as a result, on 20 October 1944, a group of young officers overthrew Ponce, creating a military-civilian government called the Revolutionary Government Junta. A new constitution was adopted and elections were held, which resulted in the victory of Juan José Arévalo in 1944 and Jacobo Árbenz in 1950. During this period, Guatemala underwent numerous social and economic reforms, including large-scale land reform.

No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)
Term of office Political party Elected
Took office Left office Time in office
23   Revolutionary Government Junta 20 October 1944 15 March 1945 146 days Military
24   Juan José Arévalo
(1904–1990)
15 March 1945 15 March 1951 6 years Revolutionary Action Party 1944
25   Jacobo Árbenz
(1913–1971)
15 March 1951 27 June 1954
(Deposed)
3 years, 104 days Revolutionary Action Party /
Party of the Guatemalan Revolution
1950

Military governments (1954–1958)

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Upon presenting his resignation, Jacobo Árbenz left Colonel Carlos Enrique Díaz, head of the Armed Forces, in charge of the presidency. Diaz's first measure was the integration of a provisional government board which he led alongside Colonels Elfego H. Monzón and José Ángel Sánchez. On 29 June, Díaz was forced to resign, leading to Monzón succeeding as the new chairman of the board. Monzón would assemble a new governing board and incorporate Colonel Castillo Armas, Juan Mauricio Dubois, Jose Luis Cruz Salazar, and Enrique Oliva.

The new board would dissolve after a popular plebiscite held on 10 October 1954 would allow Colonel Castillo Armas to assume the presidency. Under Armas' mandate, several reforms implemented during the Guatemalan Revolution were suspended, and political opponents, as well as unions and peasant organizations, were persecuted. Armas' assassination on 26 July 1957, would prompt Congress to appoint Luis Arturo González as acting president and condition him to call for elections within four months.

The planned election was held on 20 October 1957, but the results were later nullified due to allegations of fraud. President González would resign and cede power to a provisional governing board led by Óscar Mendoza Azurdia, Gonzalo Yurrita Nova, and Roberto Lorenzana. The new board would govern for two days before Congress would appoint Colonel Guillermo Flores Avendaño as acting president. President Avendaño would call for elections in January 1958.

No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)
Term of office Political party Elected
Took office Left office Time in office
26   Carlos Enrique Díaz de León
(1915–2014)
Provisional President
27 June 1954 29 June 1954 2 days Military
27   Elfego Hernán Monzón Aguirre
(1912–1981)
Chairman of Military Junta
29 June 1954 8 July 1954 9 days Military
28   Carlos Castillo Armas
(1914–1957)
8 July 1954 26 July 1957 3 years, 18 days National Liberation Movement 1954
29   Luis Arturo González López
(1900–1965)
Acting
27 July 1957 24 October 1957 89 days Independent
30   Óscar Mendoza Azurdia
(1917–1995)
Chairman of Military Junta
24 October 1957 26 October 1957 2 days Military
31   Guillermo Flores Avendaño
(1894–1982)
Acting
26 October 1957 2 March 1958 129 days Military

Civil War period (1958–1996)

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No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)
Term of office Political party Elected
Took office Left office Time in office
32   Miguel Ydígoras Fuentes
(1895–1982)
2 March 1958 31 March 1963
(Deposed)
5 years, 29 days Military /
REDENCION
1958
33   Enrique Peralta Azurdia
(1908–1997)
31 March 1963 1 July 1966 3 years, 92 days Institutional Democratic Party
34   Julio César Méndez Montenegro
(1915–1996)
1 July 1966 1 July 1970 4 years Revolutionary Party 1966
35   Carlos Manuel Arana Osorio
(1918–2003)
1 July 1970 1 July 1974 4 years Institutional Democratic Party 1970
36   Kjell Eugenio Laugerud García
(1930–2009)
1 July 1974 1 July 1978 4 years Institutional Democratic Party 1974
37   Fernando Romeo Lucas García
(1924–2006)
1 July 1978 23 March 1982
(Deposed)
3 years, 265 days Institutional Democratic Party 1978
38   Efraín Ríos Montt
(1926–2018)
23 March 1982 8 August 1983
(Deposed)
1 year, 138 days Military
39   Óscar Humberto Mejía Víctores
(1930–2016)
8 August 1983 14 January 1986 2 years, 159 days Military
40   Vinicio Cerezo
(born 1942)
14 January 1986 14 January 1991 5 years Guatemalan Christian Democracy 1985
41   Jorge Serrano Elías
(born 1945)
14 January 1991 1 June 1993
(Resigned)
2 years, 138 days Solidarity Action Movement 1990
42   Gustavo Adolfo Espina Salguero
(born 1946)
Acting
1 June 1993 5 June 1993 4 days Solidarity Action Movement
43   Ramiro de León Carpio
(1942–2002)
6 June 1993 14 January 1996 2 years, 222 days Independent 1993

Contemporary period (1996–present)

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No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)
Term of office Political party Elected
Took office Left office Time in office
44   Álvaro Arzú
(1946–2018)
14 January 1996 14 January 2000 4 years National Advancement Party /
Unionist Party
1995–1996
45   Alfonso Portillo
(born 1951)
14 January 2000 14 January 2004 4 years Guatemalan Republican Front 1999
46   Óscar Berger
(born 1946)
14 January 2004 14 January 2008 4 years National Solidarity Party /
Grand National Alliance
2003
47   Álvaro Colom
(1951–2023)
14 January 2008 14 January 2012 4 years National Unity of Hope 2007
48   Otto Pérez Molina
(born 1950)
14 January 2012 3 September 2015
(Resigned)
3 years, 232 days Patriotic Party /
Grand National Alliance
2011
49   Alejandro Maldonado
(born 1936)
Acting
3 September 2015 14 January 2016 133 days Independent
50   Jimmy Morales
(born 1969)
14 January 2016 14 January 2020 4 years National Convergence Front 2015
51   Alejandro Giammattei
(born 1956)
14 January 2020 14 January 2024 4 years Vamos 2019
52   Bernardo Arévalo
(born 1958)
15 January 2024 Incumbent 270 days Semilla 2023

Timeline

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Bernardo ArévaloAlejandro GiammatteiJimmy MoralesAlejandro MaldonadoOtto Pérez MolinaÁlvaro ColomÓscar BergerAlfonso PortilloÁlvaro ArzúRamiro de León CarpioGustavo Adolfo Espina SalgueroJorge Serrano ElíasVinicio CerezoÓscar Humberto Mejía VíctoresEfraín Ríos MonttFernando Romeo Lucas GarcíaKjell Eugenio Laugerud GarcíaCarlos Manuel Arana OsorioJulio César Méndez MontenegroEnrique Peralta AzurdiaMiguel Ydígoras FuentesGuillermo Flores AvendañoÓscar Mendoza AzurdiaLuis Arturo González LópezCarlos Castillo ArmasElfego Hernán Monzón AguirreCarlos Enrique Díaz de LeónJacobo ÁrbenzJuan José ArévaloPresident of GuatemalaJuan Federico Ponce VaidesJorge UbicoJosé María Reina AndradeManuel María Orellana ContrerasBaudillio PalmaLázaro Chacón GonzálezJosé María OrellanaCarlos HerreraManuel Estrada CabreraJosé María Reina BarriosManuel BarillasAlejandro M. SinibaldiJusto Rufino BarriosMiguel García GranadosVicente Cerna SandovalPedro de Aycinena y PiñolMariano Paredes (President of Guatemala)José Bernardo EscobarJuan Antonio MartínezRafael CarreraJosé Venancio LópezMariano Rivera Paz

Latest election

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CandidateRunning matePartyFirst roundSecond round
Votes%Votes%
Sandra TorresRomeo GuerraNational Unity of Hope881,59220.981,567,66439.09
Bernardo ArévaloKarin HerreraSemilla654,53415.582,442,71860.91
Manuel CondeLuis Antonio SuárezVamos435,63110.37
Armando CastilloÉdgar GrisoliaVision with Values404,0599.61
Edmond MuletMáximo Santa CruzCabal371,8578.85
Zury RíosHéctor CifuentesValorUnionist365,0288.69
Manuel VillacortaJorge Mario GarcíaWill, Opportunity and Solidarity238,6865.68
Giovanni ReyesÓscar FigueroaBienestar Nacional141,7143.37
Amílcar RiveraFernando MazariegosVictory135,5913.23
Amílcar PopMónica EnríquezWinaqURNG–MAIZ87,6762.09
Ricardo SagastumeGuillermo GonzálezTodos76,5821.82
Rudy GuzmánDiego GonzálezNosotros66,1161.57
Isaac FarchiMauricio ZaldañaBlue Party61,4721.46
Julio RiveraJosé UrrutiaMy Family46,0921.10
Francisco ArredondoFrancisco BermúdezCommitment, Renewal and Order41,9481.00
Giulio TalamontiÓscar BarrientosRepublican Union40,3580.96
Hugo PeñaHugo JohnsonElephant Community39,2710.93
Rudio Lecsan MéridaRubén Darío RosalesHumanist Party34,2850.82
Rafael EspadaArturo HerradorRepublican Party32,1390.76
Sammy MoralesMiguel Ángel MoirNational Convergence Front22,3160.53
Álvaro TrujilloMiguel Ángel IbarraChange17,7150.42
Luis Lam PadillaOtto MarroquínNational Integration Party7,7800.19
Total4,202,442100.004,010,382100.00
Valid votes4,202,44275.624,010,38295.25
Invalid votes966,38917.39147,1653.50
Blank votes388,4426.9952,6871.25
Total votes5,557,273100.004,210,234100.00
Registered voters/turnout9,249,79460.089,361,06844.98
Source: TSE (first round; 99.13% counted) TSE (second round; 100% counted)

Notes

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References

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  1. ^ Rony Ríos (17 January 2017). "Jimmy Morales el presidente mejor pagado de Latinoamérica". elPeriódico. Archived from the original on 19 January 2018. Retrieved 19 May 2018.
  2. ^ "Jimmy Morales tomó la banda presidencial como el 50° Presidente de la República de Guatemala". TN23 (news station, original in video). 16 January 2016. Archived from the original on 12 December 2021. Retrieved 5 April 2019.
  3. ^ "Jimmy Morales asume como nuevo presidente de Guatemala". CNN Español. 14 January 2016. Archived from the original on 4 February 2016. Retrieved 5 April 2019.
  4. ^ Tulio Juárez (17 March 2017). "¿Qué le obsequiaría usted este sábado al presidente Jimmy Morales en su 48 cumpleaños?". elPeriódico. Archived from the original on 5 April 2019. Retrieved 5 April 2019.