1993 Guatemalan constitutional crisis: Difference between revisions
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The '''1993 Guatemala constitutional crisis''' took place in 1993 when then President [[Jorge Serrano Elías]] attempted a [[self-coup]] or |
The '''1993 Guatemala constitutional crisis''' took place in 1993 when then President [[Jorge Serrano Elías]] attempted a [[self-coup]] or autogolpe. On Tuesday May 25, 1993, Serrano illegally suspended the constitution, dissolved [[Congress of Guatemala|Congress]] and the [[Supreme Court of Justice of Guatemala|Supreme Court]], imposed [[censorship]], and tried to restrict [[Civil liberties|civil freedom]].<ref name=Levitt>Barry S. Levitt (2006), "A Desultory Defense of Democracy: OAS Resolution 1080 and the Inter-American Democratic Charter, ''Latin American Politics and Society'', Volume 48, Issue 3, September 2006, Pages: 93–123. pp104-5</ref> |
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The attempted self-coup was similar [[1992 Peruvian constitutional crisis|to the one]] carried out by [[Alberto Fujimori]], but unlike Fujimori's, had no popular support: Serrano's action met with strong protests by most elements of Guatemalan society,<ref name=Levitt/> at the forefront of which was the ''[[Siglo Veintiuno]]'' newspaper under the leadership of [[José Rubén Zamora]].{{Citation needed|date=August 2010}} This was combined with international pressure (the [[Organization of American States]] condemned the |
The attempted self-coup was similar [[1992 Peruvian constitutional crisis|to the one]] carried out by [[Alberto Fujimori]], but unlike Fujimori's, had no popular support: Serrano's action met with strong protests by most elements of Guatemalan society,<ref name=Levitt/> at the forefront of which was the ''[[Siglo Veintiuno]]'' newspaper under the leadership of [[José Rubén Zamora]].{{Citation needed|date=August 2010}} This was combined with international pressure (the [[Organization of American States]] condemned the autogolpe<ref name=Levitt/>) and the army's enforcement of the decisions of the Constitutional Court, which ruled against the attempted takeover.{{Citation needed|date=August 2010}} |
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In the face of this pressure, Serrano resigned as president and fled the country. He was replaced on an interim basis by his vice president, [[Gustavo Espina]].<ref name=Levitt/> However, Espina was judged by the Constitutional Court to have been involved in the coup as well, and Congress replaced him with Human Rights Ombudsman [[Ramiro de León]].<ref name=Levitt/> |
In the face of this pressure, Serrano resigned as president and fled the country. He was replaced on an interim basis by his vice president, [[Gustavo Espina]].<ref name=Levitt/> However, Espina was judged by the Constitutional Court to have been involved in the coup as well, and Congress replaced him with Human Rights [[Ombudsman]] [[Ramiro de León]].<ref name=Levitt/> |
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==Self-coup== |
==Self-coup== |
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In the early morning hours of Tuesday May 25, 1993, President |
In the early morning hours of Tuesday May 25, 1993, President Jorge Serrano Elías suspended the Constitution, dissolved the Congress, disbanded the Supreme Court, and declared himself [[dictator]] for the next two-and-a-half years.<ref>Dosal, Paul J. Power in transition: the rise of Guatemala’s industrial oligarchy, 1871-1994. Westport: Praeger. 1995. Pp. 1.</ref> |
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He also suspended 59 articles of the Guatemalan Constitution. At the same time, [[Jorge Serrano Elías|Serrano]] called on the Supreme Electoral Tribunal to convoke elections for a National Constituent Assembly in 60 days.<ref>McCleary, Rachel M. Dictating democracy: Guatemala and the end of violent revolution. Gainesville: University Press of Florida. 1999. Pp. 105-148.</ref> |
He also suspended 59 articles of the [[Constitution of Guatemala|Guatemalan Constitution]]. At the same time, [[Jorge Serrano Elías|Serrano]] called on the [[Supreme Electoral Tribunal (Guatemala)|Supreme Electoral Tribunal]] to convoke elections for a National Constituent Assembly in 60 days.<ref>McCleary, Rachel M. Dictating democracy: Guatemala and the end of violent revolution. Gainesville: University Press of Florida. 1999. Pp. 105-148.</ref> |
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[[Jorge Serrano Elías|Serrano]] had |
[[Jorge Serrano Elías|Serrano]] had severely overestimated his support from the military and underestimated the international diplomatic reaction to his coup. Furthermore, his move had the unintended effect of catalyzing opposition not only to his leadership but to the whole structure of backroom military power that he had hoped would support him, bringing together an unlikely coalition of progressive business interests, human rights groups, and [[Maya civilization|Maya]] activists that would play an important role in the [[Guatemalan Peace Process 1994-1996|1996 Peace Accord]] negotiations.<ref>Fischer, Edward F. Cultural logics and global economies: Maya identity in thought and practice. Austin: University of Texas Press, Austin. 2001. Pp. 78-79.</ref> |
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In |
In one last bid to stay in office, Serrano tried to recall the Congress which he had dissolved in May. Few responded and Serrano was forced to step down. He subsequently fled to [[El Salvador]] under military protection on June 2. Serrano’s departure provoked another crisis when on June 2 another of his supporters, Vice-President Gustavo Espina Salguero, proclaimed himself President. Espina was prevented from taking office on the evening of June 2 when only 44 deputies attended Congress to approve his swearing-in. On June 4, the [[Constitutional Court of Guatemala|Court of Constitutionality]] ruled that Espina was not eligible for the presidency due to his support for Serrano’s coup. The Court ordered the Congress to reconvene and elect a new President within 24 hours.<ref>Keesing’s record of world events June 1993. Pp. 39503.</ref> |
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==References== |
==References== |
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Revision as of 17:53, 11 May 2023
 | This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (May 2023) |
| 1993 Guatemalan constitutional crisis | |||||||
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President of Guatemala Council of Ministers Executive Branch |
Congress of Guatemala Constitutional Court Supreme Court of Justice Attorney General of the Nation Chief Attorney General Supreme Electoral Tribunal Guatemalans Supported by:  Organization of American States United Nations United States | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
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Jorge Serrano Elías Gustavo Espina Aída de Castillo Roxana Baldetti[1] Francisco Perdomo Arturo Alvarado Pérez |
Epaminondas González Arturo Herbruger Asturias Ramiro de León Carpio Jorge García Laguardia Others: José Rubén Zamora | ||||||
The 1993 Guatemala constitutional crisis took place in 1993 when then President Jorge Serrano Elías attempted a self-coup or autogolpe. On Tuesday May 25, 1993, Serrano illegally suspended the constitution, dissolved Congress and the Supreme Court, imposed censorship, and tried to restrict civil freedom.[2]
The attempted self-coup was similar to the one carried out by Alberto Fujimori, but unlike Fujimori's, had no popular support: Serrano's action met with strong protests by most elements of Guatemalan society,[2] at the forefront of which was the Siglo Veintiuno newspaper under the leadership of José Rubén Zamora.[citation needed] This was combined with international pressure (the Organization of American States condemned the autogolpe[2]) and the army's enforcement of the decisions of the Constitutional Court, which ruled against the attempted takeover.[citation needed]
In the face of this pressure, Serrano resigned as president and fled the country. He was replaced on an interim basis by his vice president, Gustavo Espina.[2] However, Espina was judged by the Constitutional Court to have been involved in the coup as well, and Congress replaced him with Human Rights Ombudsman Ramiro de León.[2]
Self-coup
In the early morning hours of Tuesday May 25, 1993, President Jorge Serrano Elías suspended the Constitution, dissolved the Congress, disbanded the Supreme Court, and declared himself dictator for the next two-and-a-half years.[3] He also suspended 59 articles of the Guatemalan Constitution. At the same time, Serrano called on the Supreme Electoral Tribunal to convoke elections for a National Constituent Assembly in 60 days.[4]
Serrano had severely overestimated his support from the military and underestimated the international diplomatic reaction to his coup. Furthermore, his move had the unintended effect of catalyzing opposition not only to his leadership but to the whole structure of backroom military power that he had hoped would support him, bringing together an unlikely coalition of progressive business interests, human rights groups, and Maya activists that would play an important role in the 1996 Peace Accord negotiations.[5]
In one last bid to stay in office, Serrano tried to recall the Congress which he had dissolved in May. Few responded and Serrano was forced to step down. He subsequently fled to El Salvador under military protection on June 2. Serrano’s departure provoked another crisis when on June 2 another of his supporters, Vice-President Gustavo Espina Salguero, proclaimed himself President. Espina was prevented from taking office on the evening of June 2 when only 44 deputies attended Congress to approve his swearing-in. On June 4, the Court of Constitutionality ruled that Espina was not eligible for the presidency due to his support for Serrano’s coup. The Court ordered the Congress to reconvene and elect a new President within 24 hours.[6]
References
- ^ "Primeros años de Roxana Baldetti en la política – Prensa Libre".
- ^ a b c d e Barry S. Levitt (2006), "A Desultory Defense of Democracy: OAS Resolution 1080 and the Inter-American Democratic Charter, Latin American Politics and Society, Volume 48, Issue 3, September 2006, Pages: 93–123. pp104-5
- ^ Dosal, Paul J. Power in transition: the rise of Guatemala’s industrial oligarchy, 1871-1994. Westport: Praeger. 1995. Pp. 1.
- ^ McCleary, Rachel M. Dictating democracy: Guatemala and the end of violent revolution. Gainesville: University Press of Florida. 1999. Pp. 105-148.
- ^ Fischer, Edward F. Cultural logics and global economies: Maya identity in thought and practice. Austin: University of Texas Press, Austin. 2001. Pp. 78-79.
- ^ Keesing’s record of world events June 1993. Pp. 39503.
