Not only was an excessive and opaque budget approved, but they also took the opportunity to increase their salaries by 60.2% (including per diems and bonuses). This was achieved with the favorable vote of 87 deputies. With this maneuver, members of the Board of Directors and key committees now earn more than Q60,000 monthly. This consolidates a political class disconnected from the country's reality and the priorities of Guatemalans.
This decision provoked the indignation of Guatemalan citizens and led us to question whether public resources are being used appropriately and for what the country truly needs. This is because basic services for the population are deficient, and there are many other national priorities to address before deputies' salaries. Additionally, most congressmen do not attend work and do not represent the interests of their voters. Why should they receive a salary increase if their work does not achieve the expected results?
For this reason, at Movimiento Cívico Nacional, we could not stand idly by. We believe that our Republic depends on values such as ethics, transparency, justice, responsibility, institutionality, and accountability. As citizens, we must safeguard the Republic and ensure that all these are upheld.
Citizen actions against the deputies' salary increase
We know that citizens can unite to confront these injustices. For this reason, we were at different points in the country collecting citizen signatures to reject the deputies' salary increase. We also enabled a digital signature platform. This is how we managed to share with more Guatemalans who disagree with the unjustified increase, and we collected over 5,000 citizen signatures rejecting the congressional move and how public funds, which we all pay with our taxes, are being used.
On March 24, we attended Congress to present to the Board of Directors the signatures representing citizen discontent, demanding that this decision be reversed. As a movement, we shared with citizens the achievement of our commitment to the Republic. Citizen pressure led to the beginning of the reversal of this decision, announced on March 25 at a press conference led by members of the Congressional Board of Directors, affirming the suspension of the increase and the expectation of repealing the agreement that brought the increase into being.
Additionally, we delivered a citizen letter to each congressional bloc. This letter demands that the repeal of the agreement be confirmed, beyond the current suspension.
How is the increase repealed?
The Board of Directors said they would reverse it, but for it to be fully repealed, it must pass through the highest body of Congress: the plenary of deputies.
For the plenary of deputies, meaning all 160 deputies, to consider the repeal, it must be included in the agenda of the plenary sessions, or introduced by a deputy with a motion in the plenary sessions.
However, plenary sessions have been on hold.
Why?
The heads of each bloc attend the bloc leaders' meeting every Monday, after being summoned by the President of Congress, where the agenda for Tuesday and Thursday sessions is discussed. However, three weeks passed during which the bloc leaders' meeting was empty, there was no quorum. The bloc leaders did not show up, making it impossible to consolidate an agenda for the plenary sessions. In those weeks, only 3 to 4 blocs attended the bloc leaders' meeting.
But after three weeks without a quorum in the bloc leaders' meeting, finally, the deputies attended. However, the repeal of the abusive salary increase was not included in the agenda. This means that for another week, the deputies, even if they attend work, are not seeking to remedy the damage caused.
Citizens are vigilant and refuse to accept this mockery.
What else can we do?
The journey doesn't end here. As citizens, we must maintain the civic pressure that will ensure this agreement is officially repealed and that public resources are used to solve the country's problems. Let's remember, deputies are there to serve, not to serve themselves. Deputies must represent the citizens who elected them and make decisions that act in favor of Guatemalans' interests, not their own. The best way to achieve true representation in the country is through a reform of the Electoral and Political Parties Law, allowing citizens to know the deputies who will represent them in Congress.
If you want to be part of this civic community, learn about our actions to strengthen the Republic, and your path to leadership, visit our social media and website. We look forward to seeing you!