GUATEMALA
Let Them Eat Cake
Guatemalan protesters set fire to their congress over the weekend due to outrage over a controversial budget bill passed last week, the New York Times reported.
On Wednesday, Guatemalan legislators passed a bill that would cut funding for education and health – in favor of increasing lawmakers’ meal stipends. The legislation would also slash funding for the judiciary and for combatting malnutrition.
Meanwhile, the country is reeling from back-to-back hurricanes that have displaced thousands of people, destroyed homes and ruined vital infrastructure.
Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei denounced the arson but said he would examine possible changes to the budget.
Protesters are also furious over rampant corruption, claiming that “neither a president nor a Congress” are truly representing them. They called on all lawmakers to resign.
Last year, former President Jimmy Morales expelled a United Nations-backed commission that attempted to launch high-profile graft probes. He was criticized for attempting to protect officials charged with abusing their positions for personal enrichment.
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