Source: http://archive.ipu.org/parline-e/reports/2129.htm
Timestamp: 2019-04-25 22:35:52+00:00

Document:
Timing and scope of renewal As in the previous elections, no party won an outright majority in the 158-member Congress of the Republic. According to unofficial results, Democratic Renewed Liberty (LIDER), led by Mr. Manuel Baldizon, came first, taking 45 seats. Mr. Baldizon had previously lost to Mr. Otto Perez Molina in a presidential run-off ballot in 2011. LIDER then went on to support President Molina in 20112015 legislature. National Unity of Hope (UNE), led by Ms. Sandra Torres Casanova (ex-wife of former President Álvaro Colom), followed with 32 seats. Three other parties took more than ten seats: Everyone Together for Guatemala (TODOS), led by former President of the central bank of Guatemala, Lizardo Sosa; the Patriotic Party (PP), established by Mr. Molina in 2001; and the National Convergence Front (FCN NACION), led by former actor Jimmy Morales. During the election campaigning, many candidates promised measures to tackle corruption and crime, and to take action on tax reform.
The 2015 elections followed the resignation of President Otto Perez Molina on 3 September over a corruption scandal. Vice-President Alejandro Maldonado was sworn in as the new President later on the same day to serve out the rest of Mr. Molina's term. The 79-year-old former Constitutional Court judge had become Vice-President in May 2015 when the then Vice-President, Roxana Baldetti, resigned due to the same scandal. Ms. Baldetti has been in custody since that time and maintains her innocence. On 17 September, Mr. Juan Alfonso Fuentes Soria was sworn in as the new Vice-President.
In the presidential elections, held in parallel with parliamentary elections, no candidate secured the required majority. In the run-off ballot held on 25 October, Mr. Morales defeated Ms. Torres. Mr. Maldonado is due to hand over power to the new President on 14 January 2016.
Parliamentary immunity - parliamentary non-accountability · The concept does exist (Art. 161 (b) of the Constitution, Art. 54 of the Organic Law of the Legislative Organ).
· Non-accountability takes effect on the day when the deputy is declared elected. It does not offer, after the expiry of the mandate, protection against prosecution for opinions expressed during the exercise of the mandate.
Parliamentary immunity - parliamentary inviolability · The concept does exist (Art. 161 (a) and (b) (4) of the Constitution, Art. 54 of the Organic Law of the Legislative Organ).
· It applies only to criminal proceedings, covers all offences and protects MPs from arrest and from being held in preventive custody, and from the opening of judicial proceedings against them. It does not protect them from their homes being searched.
· Derogations: in case of flagrante delicto, the MP is immediately placed at the disposition of the Bureau or the Permanent Commission of the Congress for the purpose of the corresponding initial judgement (antejuicio, Art. 161 (a) of the Constitution, Art. 135 to 138 of the Organic Law of the Legislative Organ).
· Protection is provided from the day when the deputy has been declared elected to the end of the mandate. It does not cover judicial proceedings instituted against MPs before their election but a candidate cannot be sworn in if criminal judicial proceedings are pending against him.
- Procedure. In this case, MPs must be heard. They have means of appeal.
Training · There is occasionally a training/initiation process on parliamentary practices and procedures for MPs.
· It is provided by national or international organisations.
Participation in the work of the Parliament · It is compulsory for MPs to be present at plenary sittings, committee meetings and other meetings (Art. 62 of the Organic Law of the Legislative Organ; for excuses and leave, see Art. 63 to 65 of the Organic Law of the Legislative Organ).
Discipline · The rules governing discipline within Parliament are contained in Art. 83 (d) to (g), and 86 to 88 of the Organic Law of the Legislative Organ.
Code (rules) of conduct · This concept does not exist in the country's juridical system but there are some relevant provisions (Art. 161 (b) (4), 164 of the Constitution, Art. 53, 61, and 67 of the Organic Law of the Legislative Organ; for the declaration of personal assets, see Obligation to declare personal assets).
- Suspension, exclusion from Parliament (Art. 161 (b) (4) of the Constitution, Art. 61 (1), (3) and (4) of the Organic Law of the Legislative Organ). In this case, MPs have (no) means of recourse.
- Suspension, exclusion from Parliament (Art. 164 of the Constitution, Art. 61 (2) to (4) of the Organic Law of the Legislative Organ).
- Private or public admonition, vote of censure (Art. 53 and 67 of the Organic Law of the Legislative Organ).

References: Art. 54
 Art. 54
 Art. 161
 Art. 135
 Art. 63
 Art. 83
 Art. 53
 Art. 61
 Art. 61