After a meeting between the judges of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) and the members of the Finance Commission of the Congress of the Republic, It was agreed to present a proposal for a budget expansion for Q120 million.
The required amount will be allocated to the preparation of the 2027 general elections and corresponds to the deficit identified by the authority in the pre-election year.
This year, the TSE has an allocation of Q500 million approved in the general budget.
At the work table, The proposal appears as “Initiative Law on Budgetary Provisions for the Strengthening of the Supreme Electoral Court and the Preparation of the 2027 Electoral Event.”
If the plenary session knows and approves the initiative, the TSE will have a budget allocation of Q620 million for the preparation of next year’s general elections.
The initiative contemplates that Q80 million come through the Ministry of Finance (Minfin) and another Q40 million from the cash balances of the TSE, to complete the Q120 million provided for in the proposal to reform the current budget.
Congress plans to approve Q120 million
Deputy Orlando Blanco, member of the Congressional board of directors, stated that there is a willingness to approve the budget expansion initiative when it is known by the plenary session, after institutional approaches.
He recalled that the judges of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) stated that the current budget, approved by the Legislature, presents a deficit of Q120 million which is not contemplated in the ordinary and extraordinary contributions, which could generate consequences in the pre-election year for the organization of the general elections and the required previous activities.
He indicated that the commission agreed to approve an increase of Q80 million, based on consultations carried out with the Minfin on budgetary availability, and another Q40 million from resources not executed during the fiscal year of 2025. which form part of the Court’s cash balances.
“There is already a ruling and the idea is that it can be heard in plenary session in the session on June 3. It will have exemption from the first and second reading debates and will be approved as a matter of national urgency to guarantee all resources,” the legislator noted.
He clarified that the intention is to avoid excuses that could lead to complications during the next electoral process, especially due to the difficulties registered in the last two general elections, including delays in the transmission of results, and to provide the TSE with the necessary resources to guarantee an agile, clean and transparent process.
Ensures loan for secondary education
Separately, the members of the Finance Commission issued a favorable opinion on a loan application for US$100 million (about Q765 million) destined to expand the coverage of secondary education.
The operation will be carried out with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the opinion was approved with modifications.
Now it is up to the plenary session of Congress to discuss the initiative, since, since it is a sovereign debt, it must be aware of it and approve it.
The official document indicates that the financing with the IDB is intended to execute the Program to Support the Expansion of Secondary Education, which will be in charge of the Ministry of Education (Mineduc) and is aimed at expanding coverage, improving educational infrastructure, strengthening the use of educational and technological resources, as well as improving the skills of teachers in service at the secondary level..
The program will be financed through an investment loan granted by the IDB, under the flexible financing modality, to strengthen the coverage and quality of secondary education in Guatemala, including the basic and diversified cycles.
- Amount: US$100 million
- Destination: Financing of the Program to Support the Expansion of Secondary Education
- Executing agency: Ministry of Education
- Term: 23.7 years
