On July 1, Walter Mazariegos’ new term as rector of the University of San Carlos de Guatemala (Usac) begins. but complaints from the Comptroller General of Accounts (CGC) could affect his second term due to doubts about the issuance of a new settlement.
The temporary record of non-existence of claims for charges, known as settlement, is an essential requirement for the position, according to analysts who already add one more doubt for Mazariegos’ new management.
The CGC presented the complaints against the rector of the Usac on March 7, 24 and 27, but details are unknown because they are already in charge of the Public Ministry (MP).
Authorities from the investigative unit confirmed the complaints, and only specify that they were assigned to the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office, but until now they have not provided details of the allegations against Mazariegos.
Sources who chose not to be cited explained that the CGC issued an advisory opinion in 2018, explaining that severance pay cannot be required when it comes to public officials or employees who are promoted.
That scenario would not apply to Mazariegos, according to the source, since it is about continuity for a position where public funds are managed, which is why he assures that it is essential that he have said proof to begin this new period.
Mazariegos won re-election after excluding most of the electoral bodies related to candidate Rodolfo Chang.
The election session took place in a private hotel in Antigua Guatemala, behind closed doors and under a strong police contingent that many attribute as a “backup” from the Presidency of Guatemala to Walter Mazariegos.
The MP will be key
For Javier Monterroso, legal expert and former private secretary of the MP, the CGC complaints represent a serious obstacle for Mazariegos to take office on July 1.
It stands out that the institution, after carrying out its audits, considered it appropriate to present complaints, so if these are not resolved before the new period, the position should be clear and is not to issue a new settlement.
“The Law on Probity of Officials establishes that the settlement is essential for officials to take office. In this case, Walter Mazariegos is a public official, receives public funds, and must have the settlement,” Monterroso explained.
The complaints are in charge of the MP whose attorney general, María Consuelo Porras, did not receive support from the rector Walter Mazariegos when she ran as a candidate for the Constitutional Court (CC) on behalf of the USAC.
But despite this scenario, Monterroso believes that an alternative that Mazariegos would have to be able to have a settlement is for the MP himself to choose to dismiss the complaints presented by the CGC.
“The only way out that the Public Ministry would have would be to dismiss the complaints, but that would be the only route. The Comptroller General of Accounts would not be able to do it. If they were presented, the MP must request the dismissal before a judge,” Indian.
Analyze complaints
For César Vega, an analyst at Acción Ciudadana, it is necessary to analyze each of the complaints that were filed against the Sancarlista rector, since each fact is different.
He also considers it vital that the underlying “intention” be studied so that the accusations against the rector reach this moment, or that they are at least made public after the election of the rector.
“Although we have seen how the settlement is used to eliminate candidates and stop seizures of possessions. It is clear that Walter Maazariegos committed fraud, this is an imposition, we must call it for what it is,” Vega explained about the future takeover.
But he considers that the complaints are a brake on Mazariegos being able to take a new term as rector of the USAC, since termination is mandatory for the position.
“If the Comptroller’s Office filed the complaints and the Public Ministry has knowledge, it could eventually serve to block his takeover. We don’t know if this is good or bad because sometimes settlements are taken as extortions to find something,” Indian.
Vega added that there are aspects of the election and procedures around the USAC that deserve to be evaluated in depth, so that every doubt and rumor surrounding the topic can be resolved.
“It is also evident that the actions of the PNC in recent days are supporting the fraud. This leaves serious doubts as to whether the Executive is endorsing the fraud and the senior executives of the Executive must be questioned about the actions of the PNC that ensure that this fraud is consummated,” express.
For his part, a member of the Higher University Council (CSU) who asked not to be named simply said that they have not received information about the complaints presented by the CGC.
Mazariegos came to the position of rector in 2022 under allegations of apparent fraud; in 2026, the doubts about his continuity in office are the same.
The university opposition announced legal actions, as did some politicians, which already leaves the last word on the continuity or not of Walter Mazariegos in the USAC in the hands of the Cortes.
