LatinNews Daily - 14 December 2023

* Guatemala’s President-elect Bernardo Arévalo, due to take office on 14 January, has called on President Alejandro Giammattei to veto the state budget for 2024, adding to calls from think tanks and the private sector. In a letter addressed to Giammattei on social media, Arévalo said the veto would be necessary to “fulfil [the president’s] role as guarantor of the constitution and his duty to safeguard the interests of each and every inhabitant of the Republic”. Arévalo highlighted “multiple illegalities” in the budget stating that “several provisions undermine the authority, competence, and leadership that ministers hold across the entire country regarding matters specific to their department and the corresponding public policies related to their substantive duties, as well as the legal faculty to administer financial resources”. Arévalo also raised corruption concerns, stating that NGOs that “lack experience, are unknown, or have evident ties to political actors” have been assigned an “unprecedented” Q5.19bn (US$663.28m). Arévalo went on to criticise budget cuts to public ministries in favour of NGOs. He also argued the budget “constitutes a threat that could affect the timely payment of public debt, needlessly compromises the country’s credit rating, and defunds areas of public investment and social expenditure”. Congress approved the budget on 30 November for Q124.88bn, up from Q118.17bn in 2023.