República de Guatemala - Episodio 5

200 Years of Guatemalan Constitutionalism

Historical Context and Economic Shifts

• The Instituto de Justicia Constitucional presents a discussion on 200 years of constitutionalism in Guatemala.

• The Republic of Guatemala was established on March 21, 1847, with the constitutional act proclaimed in October 1851. The economy thrived due to the cultivation and exportation of cochineal.

• By 1858, an economic crisis loomed as cochineal lost its value internationally due to synthetic dyes. Under President Rafael Carrera, coffee emerged as a new economic opportunity.

Political Changes and Insurgency

• Coffee cultivation required more land and labor compared to cochineal. After Carrera's death in 1865, Vicente Cerna took over but failed to implement necessary agrarian reforms.

• Insurgent groups formed under leaders like Miguel García Granados and Justo Rufino Barrios to challenge Cerna’s government.

• A pivotal moment occurred in June 1871 with the signing of the Patsía Act, which rejected Cerna's government and recognized Granados as president.

The Liberal Revolution

• Following the battle of San Lucas Zacatepeques on June 29, 1871, revolutionary forces entered Guatemala City, marking the beginning of the Liberal Revolution.

• Granados served as provisional president from 1871 to 1873 before Barrios won an electoral dispute and became president.

Reforms and Constitution

• The Liberal Revolution brought significant changes: modernization across various sectors including politics, education (establishing secular public education), and anti-clerical movements influenced by Enlightenment ideas.

• In 1879, a constitutional assembly promulgated a new constitution that came into effect in March 1880. It established three branches of government and promoted religious freedom while favoring Barrios' presidency.

Succession Issues and Continued Reforms

• The constitution underwent eight reforms until it was replaced in 1944. Barrios died on April 2, 1885; Alejandro Sinaldín briefly succeeded him before Manuel Lisandro Varías took over.

• Varías continued liberal reforms during his presidency until Reina Barrios assumed power in 1892 for four years but faced opposition leading to unrest known as the revolution of 1897.

Authoritarian Rule

• José María Rey Navarros was assassinated on February 8, 1898; Manuel Estrada Cabrera then assumed power. His administration enacted constitutional reforms favoring his re-election.

Historical Overview of Guatemala's Political Landscape

Emergence of the Unionist Party

• In December 1919, the Act of the Three Folds was signed, leading to the formation of the Unionist Party amidst existing unionism in Central America.

• The Unionist Party organized across various sectors and held a massive demonstration on March 11, 1920, which was violently suppressed by state security forces, causing public discontent.

The Tragic Week and Aftermath

• The "Semana Trágica" occurred from April 8 to April 15, 1920, marked by violent clashes between pro-unionists and supporters of Estrada Cabrera, resulting in numerous deaths and widespread terror.

• Estrada Cabrera was ultimately defeated and imprisoned; his fall led to power being assumed by landowner Carlos Herrera Luna.

Attempts at Federal Unity

• In 1921, a meeting in San José aimed to revive the federal pact dissolved in 1838; however, only Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras participated in forming a new assembly.

• This assembly promulgated the Federal Constitution of Central America in 1921 but proved short-lived as it did not replace earlier constitutional frameworks.

Rise of General Jorge Ubico

• Between 1927 and early 1930s reforms were made leading up to General Jorge Ubico's presidency starting February 14, 1931; constitutional amendments facilitated his extended rule.

• Ubico’s regime became increasingly intolerant until he resigned on July 1, 1944. A triumvirate briefly took over before General Federico Ponce assumed control.

Revolutionary Changes Post-Ubico

• On October 20, 1944, a civic-military movement overthrew Ponce's government. A revolutionary junta governed without recognizing previous constitutions while aiming for constitutional restoration.

• Elections for a National Constituent Assembly were called; this body promulgated Guatemala's new constitution in March 1945 under President Dr. Juan José Arévalo.

Key Reforms Under Arévalo and Arbenz

• The new constitution emphasized private property rights and individual guarantees while promoting social security and cultural values during Arévalo’s administration followed by Jacobo Árbenz.

• Significant agrarian reforms were enacted against monopolies like United Fruit Company through Decree No.900 in 1952 aimed at redistributing land.

Political Turmoil Leading to Military Coup

• Árbenz’s government faced opposition culminating in his overthrow at the end of June 1954 led by Carlos Castillo Armas who disregarded the Constitution of '45.

• Following this coup, a new constitution was established in '56 that recognized legal status for churches but banned communist parties under Castillo Armas' leadership.

Electoral Challenges Post-Coup

• Castillo Armas was assassinated on July 26, '57; subsequent elections saw Miguel Ortiz Pasarelli win amid political unrest leading to protests against electoral results.

• New elections were called for early '58 where Miguel Ydigoras Fuentes emerged victorious amidst significant political turbulence influenced by Cold War dynamics.

Historical Overview of Guatemalan Political Changes

The Coup d'État and Its Aftermath

• By late 1963, discontent among traditional groups led to a coup d'état in March 1963, resulting in Colonel Enrique Peralta Zulia taking command as the head of state.

• A National Constituent Assembly was called in 1965, which promulgated the Constitution of the Republic of Guatemala that year.

Presidential Elections and Subsequent Events

• In the elections following the new constitution, Licenciado Mario Méndez Montenegro was elected president for a four-year term; this period also introduced the role of Vice President.

• However, on March 20, 1982, General Efraín Ríos Montt led another coup d'état alongside twelve other military officials.

Further Political Developments

• A year later, General Óscar Humberto Mejía Víctores initiated yet another coup and subsequently called for elections for a National Constituent Assembly held on July 1, 1984.