If you’re looking up who is president of Guatemala, you’ve probably seen the name Bernardo Arévalo. He’s the guy currently steering the ship in Guatemala City. But honestly, just knowing his name doesn't really give you the full picture. It's been a wild ride for him.
He took office on January 15, 2024. And yeah, it wasn't exactly a smooth transition. Usually, these ceremonies are pretty standard, right? Not this time. His inauguration was delayed for hours because of a massive standoff in the country’s Congress. Supporters were literally in the streets protesting while the politicians inside were duking it out over who got to sit where. It was tense.
The President of Guatemala: A New Era?
Bernardo Arévalo isn't your typical career politician in the way people usually think of them. He’s a diplomat and a sociologist. He’s also the son of Juan José Arévalo, who was the country’s first democratically elected president back in the 1940s. Talk about a legacy.
Most people outside Central America hadn't really heard of him until the 2023 elections. He was a total underdog. He was polling at like 3% or something crazy low before the first round. Then, bam—he makes it to the runoff. He ran on this big anti-corruption platform with his party, Movimiento Semilla (the Seed Movement).
People were tired. Guatemala has had a rough go with corruption for decades, and Arévalo basically promised to start cleaning house. That made him a lot of enemies very quickly. Even after he won the election by a landslide, the legal system—specifically the Attorney General's office—tried to shut his party down.
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What’s Happening Right Now?
It’s 2026 now, and Arévalo is roughly halfway through his four-year term. He just recently gave his second-year management report to Congress on January 14, 2026. He’s calling his progress "The First Harvest."
kinda catchy, right?
But being the president of Guatemala is arguably one of the toughest jobs in the hemisphere. He doesn't have a majority in Congress. That means every time he wants to pass a law or change a budget, it’s a massive uphill battle. He’s had to deal with:
- The "Pact of the Corrupt": That’s what locals call the entrenched political elite who have been trying to block his every move.
- Legal Challenges: There have been over a dozen petitions to impeach him or strip his immunity since he started.
- High Expectations: People voted for him because they wanted a miracle. Turning around a country where over half the population lives in poverty doesn't happen overnight, and some folks are getting impatient.
His approval ratings have dipped since that initial "honeymoon" phase, which is pretty common. He started with something like 78% approval, and now it’s hovering much lower, closer to the 40% mark depending on which poll you look at.
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The Big Wins and the Struggles
Even with all the drama, his administration has managed to get some stuff done. In 2025, they pushed through an antitrust law, which is a big deal for the economy. They’re also trying to fix the infrastructure—roads, bridges, all the stuff that's been neglected for years.
Just this year, his government announced they’re hiring nearly 13,000 new teachers. They’re also opening over 500 new secondary schools. Education is a huge part of his "Spring" vision for the country.
Key Facts About the Presidency
The rules for the president of Guatemala are pretty strict.
- Term Length: 4 years.
- No Re-election: Once you're done, you're done. No second terms allowed, ever.
- Role: Both Head of State and Head of Government.
Why Should You Care?
You might be wondering why this matters if you don’t live in Guatemala. Well, stability in Guatemala affects the whole region. It impacts migration patterns, trade, and regional security. If Arévalo succeeds in making the government more transparent, it changes the game for foreign investment in Central America.
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He’s been working closely with international partners, including the U.S., on things like drug interdiction and trying to manage the flow of people moving north. It's a complicated relationship, especially with shifting politics in Washington.
What's Next for Arévalo?
The next couple of years are going to be "make or break." He has to prove that his "Seed" can actually grow into something permanent. He’s facing a big test in 2026 with the selection of new magistrates for the Supreme Electoral Tribunal. If the "old guard" gets back in control of the electoral machinery, it could roll back all the progress he's made.
If you’re following this, keep an eye on his relationship with the Attorney General, Consuelo Porras. She’s still in office (her term ends later in 2026), and she’s been his biggest critic and legal hurdle. That showdown is going to define the rest of his presidency.
Actionable Insights:
- Follow Local Sources: If you want the real story, look at outlets like Prensa Libre or Plaza Pública. They cover the day-to-day political chess matches.
- Monitor the Judicial Appointments: The 2026 court appointments will tell you if the anti-corruption fight is winning or losing.
- Watch the Economy: Keep an eye on Guatemala's credit rating. Arévalo is aiming for "investment grade," which would be a huge win for the country's business sector.
The situation is fluid, but for now, the answer to who is president of Guatemala remains Bernardo Arévalo—a man trying to build a "new spring" in a very complicated garden.