Weekly Report - 08 December 2011 (WR-11-49)

GUATEMALA | Pérez Molina clears first hurdle. Guatemala’s president-elect, Otto Pérez Molina has achieved one of his main priorities ahead of assuming office in January – approval of the 2012 State budget. Days before the constitutional deadline of 30 November, the 158-member congress passed the budget for Q$59.5bn (US$7.6bn) up from the Q$54.4bn (US$6.96bn) in 2010 (which was increased to US$7.2bn in June 2011).