Latinnews Daily - 12 January 2004

Negotiations foundered after the UNE made one too many demands. The party wanted not just the presidency of congress but also the first vice-presidency and the presidency of the finance committee. Gana was also fuming after it emerged that the UNE had hedged its bets, with some legislators from the party talking to Berger's inveterate rivals, the outgoing Frente Republicano Guatemalteco (FRG). Colom said that 'Institutionally we decided to form an independent group in Parliament, without any pact with the ruling party.'

The upshot is that Berger will only be able to depend upon Gana's 47 seats in the 158-seat congress; short of the 80 seats required to have a working majority able to push through ordinary legislation; well short of the two thirds needed for special laws of constitutional import.

End of preview - This article contains approximately 204 words.

Subscribers: Log in now to read the full article

Not a Subscriber?

Choose from one of the following options

• Subscribe
• Sign up for a one-time, 14-day trial