Regina Bateson, assistant professor in the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Ottawa: “Elections are usually seen as the cornerstone of democracy. However, in Guatemala this year, the upcoming presidential election could weaken an already-fragile democracy. How is this perverse outcome possible? It starts with Guatemala’s electoral authorities, who have taken an aggressive, interventionist and seemingly biased approach to determining who is allowed to run for office in the first place. These actions are harmful for democracy in multiple ways. As the locus of control shifts from the ballot box to behind-the-scenes bureaucrats, voters play less and less of a role in deciding who governs them. In a country long wracked by political cynicism and disengagement, this risks further alienating the very citizens whose engagement Guatemala so desperately needs. But who could blame them? This year the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) rejected the candidacy of the country’s most exciting, transformational presidential contender,…”