On November 30, 2023, the Plenary of the Congress of the Republic approved the 2024 General Budget (decree 18-2023), which represents the budget available for the next government.
Currently, the country's budget is Q.115,443.7. The approved budget for 2024 amounts to Q.124,879,970. In addition to a considerable increase, this decree reduces the amount allocated for investment.
Threats to the Republic due to budget approval
The approved budget ensures the designated amount for different State entities; however, there are changes that may increase and facilitate corruption and destabilize the Republic due to a lack of compliance with its principles.
Some republican principles that may be threatened due to the approval of decree 18-2023 are:
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● Checks and balances
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● Rule of law
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● Transparency of government actions
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● Limitation of public power
This is because rulers are limited by what the law indicates, so the approval of the General Budget can open doors for the modification of the behaviors of public entities, both elected and non-elected. This means that there will be a violation of the limits to public power by restricting the means to audit or track the quality of spending, which is detrimental to the transparency of government actions and can translate into corrupt acts.
What is a veto?
A government's budget is selected and approved by Congress. This means that the current legislature (IX) determines the budgetary availability that the government taking office on January 14, 2024, will have.
Likewise, it is important to note that although Congress (the legislative branch) is responsible for creating laws and adjusting the State budget as it sees fit, the president of the Republic has the power to oppose a law or decree that Congress sends for promulgation. That is, the president can veto a law or decree that may affect institutional functioning and affect the citizens of a country.
In Guatemala, the right to veto is found in the Constitution of the Republic of Guatemala. Articles such as 177 and 179 indicate the deadlines for the executive branch to carry out the sanction, promulgation, reconsideration, publication, or rejection.
The president should veto the approved budget for 2024… why?
The Congressional Committee approved budgetary changes that may alter the functioning of the next elected government.
The approval of the 2024 General Budget removes budgetary resources from institutions that provide essential services to the population, such as the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Social Development, and the Ministry of Interior. These decisions seem to indicate a preference for the functioning of the State rather than addressing the needs of Guatemalans. Rather, it is a inclination towards satisfying individual political interests of certain governmental entities.
The veto of decree 18-2023 may mean that the next government will be obliged to use the current budget for 2023, instead of having the possibility of expanding it to execute its specific projects and government plans.
Some reasons why the veto is requested…
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● Unprecedented regulations that limit the executive branch's ability to carry out projects
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● Withdrawal of budget for essential entities (e.g., MINEDUC and MSPAS)
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● Increase in budget for public entities (e.g., MP and OJ)
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● Protection or security programs for citizens are threatened by the budgeted financing through bonds.
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● Limits the contracting of media that do not have national and free coverage.
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● A percentage of the budget is allocated to NGOs, which may imply a justification for the execution of works with individual political objectives.
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● Lack of reasoning regarding budgetary changes for Ministries (such as MIDES and MINGOB) and for bureaucratic entities (such as SAT and RENAP).
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● The payment to the Bank of Guatemala for its net deficiencies was not reimbursed, so the fiscal deficit would be close to 2% of GDP.
Only the brave fight for respect for the rights of all citizens
It is essential that all Guatemalans are aware, day by day, of what is happening in Guatemala and how it can affect the Republic.
There are constitutional precepts that determine what should happen and how the transition process should be carried out to ensure compliance with the republican principles that defend and protect the rights and freedoms of all citizens. Obstruction of the transition process poses a risk to achieving these objectives.
If you want to know more about the transition process, visit MCN's new tab: "From Election to Transition" which oversees all public actions to ensure the inauguration of the elected authorities on January 14 at 2:00 PM.
Guatemala needs more brave people to keep the Republic alive!