Guatemalan Republican Front
Encyclopedia
The Guatemalan Republican Front (Frente Republicano Guatemalteco) is a right-wing political party
in Guatemala
.
It was created in 1989 by former president
and dictator
Efraín Ríos Montt
, and formally registered in 1990. It chose Ríos Montt as its candidate, but he was not allowed to stand because of a constitutional ban on former coup leaders such as himself from seeking the presidency. By the time the decision was made to ban him, it was too late for the FRG to choose another candidate. They did win 10 seats in the National Congress
in those concurrent elections. It was the main component of the "No Sell-Out Platform," an alliance of right-wing parties.
In early elections only to the Congress in 1994 the FRG gained 32 seats and became the largest single party in the legislature. In the 1995 presidential election, FRG candidate Alfonso Portillo
narrowly lost in the second round, which is a run-off between the two highest placed candidates from the first round ballot. It gained a reduced 21 seats in Congress.
In 1999 Alfonso Portillo won the Presidential election, while the FRG, with 63 seats, had a majority in Congress. Ríos Montt became the President of Congress (speaker). Paradoxically they gained their strongest support from the same rural communities that had most suffered under the former rule of Ríos Montt between 1982 and 1983.
For the 2003 presidential elections, the FRG again chose Ríos Montt as its presidential candidate. Contradicting legal decisions and judicial wrangling regarding whether or not he would be able to stand resulted in the besiegement of Guatemala City
by FRG supporters bussed in from all over the country on 24 July, a day known as Jueves Negro
("Black Thursday"). Days later the ban on Ríos Montt's candidacy was revoked by the Supreme Court. Some claimed that the FRG rigged this vote by placing a majority of their own party supporters in it, echoing Ríos Montt's claim that the judiciary was rigged against him when the decision did not find in his favor. In spite of a vigorous campaign Ríos Montt only came third in the first round of the election with 19.3%, and the FRG did not retain their majority in Congress. At the legislative elections
of the same day, 9 November 2003, the party won 19.7% of the popular vote and 43 out of 158 seats. It was the second largest party in the body.
Ríos Montt's daughter, Zury
, is the party's floor leader.
For the 2007 elections
, the party chose Luis Rabbe as its presidential candidate. With the large number of right-wing parties running in the election, the FRG was badly defeated in these elections. Rabbe came in fifth place with 7.3% of the vote, and the party received 9% of the vote and 15 seats in the congressional elections.
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in Guatemala
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
.
It was created in 1989 by former president
President of Guatemala
The title of President of Guatemala has been the usual title of the leader of Guatemala since 1839, when that title was assumed by Mariano Rivera Paz...
and dictator
Dictator
A dictator is a ruler who assumes sole and absolute power but without hereditary ascension such as an absolute monarch. When other states call the head of state of a particular state a dictator, that state is called a dictatorship...
Efraín Ríos Montt
Efraín Ríos Montt
José Efraín Ríos Montt is a former de facto President of Guatemala, dictator, army general, and former president of Congress. In the 2003 presidential elections, he unsuccessfully ran as the candidate of the ruling Guatemalan Republican Front .Huehuetenango-born Ríos Montt remains one of the most...
, and formally registered in 1990. It chose Ríos Montt as its candidate, but he was not allowed to stand because of a constitutional ban on former coup leaders such as himself from seeking the presidency. By the time the decision was made to ban him, it was too late for the FRG to choose another candidate. They did win 10 seats in the National Congress
Congress of Guatemala
The Congress of the Republic is the unicameral legislature of the Republic of Guatemala.It comprises 158 deputies, who are elected by direct universal suffrage to serve four-year terms . Twenty-nine of these are elected from nationwide lists, with the rest on a district list basis...
in those concurrent elections. It was the main component of the "No Sell-Out Platform," an alliance of right-wing parties.
In early elections only to the Congress in 1994 the FRG gained 32 seats and became the largest single party in the legislature. In the 1995 presidential election, FRG candidate Alfonso Portillo
Alfonso Portillo
Alfonso Antonio Portillo Cabrera is a Guatemalan politician. He served as the President of the Republic of Guatemala from 2000 to 2004....
narrowly lost in the second round, which is a run-off between the two highest placed candidates from the first round ballot. It gained a reduced 21 seats in Congress.
In 1999 Alfonso Portillo won the Presidential election, while the FRG, with 63 seats, had a majority in Congress. Ríos Montt became the President of Congress (speaker). Paradoxically they gained their strongest support from the same rural communities that had most suffered under the former rule of Ríos Montt between 1982 and 1983.
For the 2003 presidential elections, the FRG again chose Ríos Montt as its presidential candidate. Contradicting legal decisions and judicial wrangling regarding whether or not he would be able to stand resulted in the besiegement of Guatemala City
Guatemala City
Guatemala City , is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Guatemala and Central America...
by FRG supporters bussed in from all over the country on 24 July, a day known as Jueves Negro
Jueves negro
Jueves negro refers to a violent series of political demonstrations that created havoc in Guatemala City on 24 July and 25 July 2003....
("Black Thursday"). Days later the ban on Ríos Montt's candidacy was revoked by the Supreme Court. Some claimed that the FRG rigged this vote by placing a majority of their own party supporters in it, echoing Ríos Montt's claim that the judiciary was rigged against him when the decision did not find in his favor. In spite of a vigorous campaign Ríos Montt only came third in the first round of the election with 19.3%, and the FRG did not retain their majority in Congress. At the legislative elections
Elections in Guatemala
Elections in Guatemala include, on the national level, a head of state – the president – and a unicameral legislature.Guatemala's president and vice-president are elected on one ballot for a four year term by the people...
of the same day, 9 November 2003, the party won 19.7% of the popular vote and 43 out of 158 seats. It was the second largest party in the body.
Ríos Montt's daughter, Zury
Zury Ríos Montt
−Zury Mayté Ríos Sosa de Weller is a Guatemalan politician, affiliated with the Guatemalan Republican Front political party. She is currently serving her fourth term in Congress, where she serves as Chair of the Foreign Relations Committee...
, is the party's floor leader.
For the 2007 elections
Guatemalan general election, 2007
A general election was held in Guatemala in two rounds on 9 September and 4 November 2007. Voters went to the polls to elect a new President and Vice President of the Republic, 158 congressional deputies, and 332 mayors.-Results:...
, the party chose Luis Rabbe as its presidential candidate. With the large number of right-wing parties running in the election, the FRG was badly defeated in these elections. Rabbe came in fifth place with 7.3% of the vote, and the party received 9% of the vote and 15 seats in the congressional elections.