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Electoral/Political Party Reform: Accord for a Firm and Lasting Peace

Implementations

Electoral/Political Party Reform – 1997

The accord calls for certain electoral reforms to be made, but also mentions that a commission to be established to “consider” such improvements as:

(a) Documentation;
(b) Electoral rolls;
(c) Voting;
(d) Transparency and publicity;
(e) Information campaign;
(f) Institution-building.

The extent to which each of these items were considered is difficult to asses. The accord definitively stipulates that the URNG be allowed to become a legal political party. The URNG began the process of establishing itself as a legal political party on 18 June 1997, and its members reached an agreement on its new structure on 30 August 1997.¹

“United Nations Verification Mission in Guatemala: Report of the Secretary-General,” United Nations General Assembly (A/52/757), February 4, 1998.

Electoral/Political Party Reform – 1998

No development observed this year.

Electoral/Political Party Reform – 1999

During its monitoring of the constitutional reform referendum held on 16 May and general elections 7 November, MINUGUA received many complaints of threats against candidates, party members, and officials in the Supreme Electoral Tribunal.¹

Several shortcomings related to voter registration and political party registration were noted regarding the elections. The results of both elections, however, were generally respected. The general elections were the first in which the URNG participated as a legitimate political party and the elections also saw increased participation of women and indigenous peoples.²

“Tenth Report on Human Rights of the United Nations Verification Mission in Guatemala,” United Nations General Assembly (A/54/688), December 21, 1999.
“Eleventh Report on Human Rights of the United Nations Verification Mission in Guatemala,” United Nations General Assembly (A/55/174), July 26, 2000.