The news about democracy has been grim. Freedom House has documented 18 consecutive years of declining freedom, with autocrats emboldened on every continent, incumbent leaders manipulating elections to stay in power, and armed conflict unleashing devastating violence and eroding the rights of people living in war zones.
So, when there is a rare opportunity to support a reform-minded leader and a democratic opening, the United States and other democracies should seize it. Next week, newly elected Guatemalan president Bernardo Arévalo will visit the White House for meetings with Vice President Kamala Harris and other senior officials. The visit is especially significant because Guatemala is experiencing a once-in-a-generation opportunity to address the entrenched corruption, influence of organized crime, and intimidation of journalists and civil society groups that have caused many citizens to lose faith in the promise of democracy in this important and populous Central American nation.
Arévalo's inauguration in January came after an extraordinary six-month period that saw the soft-spoken academic and former diplomat, the son of one of Guatemala's greatest presidents, emerge from single-digit polling to finish second among 22 candidates in the first round of elections, and score a decisive runoff victory against former first lady Sandra Torres. Fueled by overwhelming support from young voters and Indigenous peoples who have long been treated as second-class citizens, Arévalo was only able to take office after a last-ditch effort by corrupt interests to block him from assuming power was thwarted. For more than 100 days, these determined activists protested to ensure that this opportunity would not be stolen, while democratic governments played a crucial role in supporting the voice of the people.
A group of staff and trustees from Freedom House met with Arévalo on March 11 in Guatemala City. The new president exudes warmth and decency. With sky-high expectations among Guatemalans for his administration, he emphasized the enormity of the task before him in tackling the country's severe economic and social problems. He underlined the presence of widespread malnourishment among young people. Corruption, he told our group, "is present in every corner of the state apparatus." To make a dent in it, he said, "will take time."
Whether he will be granted that time is an open question. Vested interests in the powerful attorney general's office, judiciary, and other law enforcement organs are looking to derail Arévalo. The new president has yet to provide many details about major initiatives, and some civil society leaders and politicians we spoke to expressed concern about the small window of opportunity for him to start delivering results.
Against this backdrop, now is the time for the US government and other democracies to double down on making sure the Arévalo administration is a success. There are several concrete ways to provide support, starting by accelerating efforts to combat Guatemala's entrenched corruption and dismantle its criminal networks. For example: during the run-up to Arévalo's inauguration, the United States and European Union imposed targeted sanctions on Guatemalan officials who tried to defy the democratic will of the people by putting forth groundless legalistic excuses to prevent the president-elect from taking office. These measures had a palpable impact in making sure Arévalo was able to be sworn in on Inauguration Day in January. Similar efforts should be undertaken toward others who seek to interfere with the fight against corruption, or who are corrupt themselves.
What is especially critical, though, is helping Arévalo deliver for Guatemalans on their clear economic and social needs, especially for the nearly 7.5 million Indigenous people who are wildly underrepresented in government and have received unequal benefits from governmental policies. USAID should significantly bolster assistance, with an eye toward supporting the new administration as it delivers concrete benefits for its people. The United States also has several initiatives that focus on attracting more investment to Central America. It is important that these also support goals like fighting corruption and improving governance and respect for human rights.
A strategic plan to assist the new Guatemalan government will be challenging to secure in the current political environment in Washington, where many lawmakers question military aid for Ukraine and other forms of foreign assistance. But it is critical not only for the future of democracy, but for the economic and national security interests of the United States, which is fighting powerful drug cartels and growing Russian and Chinese influence in Central America. (Guatemala is one of a handful of countries in the Western Hemisphere that still recognizes Taiwan.)
A robust democracy in Guatemala is also crucial for the issue that is top of mind for American presidential candidates and lawmakers: migration. Supporting the building of a safer, more prosperous Guatemala will help reduce the number of people who feel forced to leave their country to gain access to opportunity and live a peaceful life.
While leaders of El Salvador and Honduras are turning away from democratic governance, Guatemalans just saved their democracy. But as Arévalo himself told us, "Democracy will prevail only in so far as it delivers what the people require." Guatemala is facing tremendous social and economic challenges, and the people are demanding change. It will only be delivered by a democratic leader willing to break the tradition of corruption. Arévalo is that person and deserves all the support that democracies can muster.
Abramowitz is president of Freedom House. Gutiérrez, a Trustee of Freedom House, is president of Fundación Libertad y Desarrollo
The views expressed in this article are the writers' own.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
