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LITTLE PROSPECT OF AN INDIGENOUS PRESIDENT IN GUATEMALA.

Article Excerpt
The election of Evo Morales in Bolivia has led to speculation that an indigenous leader could be elected president in Guatemala as well. Morales has spoken of the possibility of a resurgence of indigenous leadership in the Americas and an end to "500 years of resistance." But, in Guatemala, the betting is that no such thing can happen in the near term. By some counts, the country is more than 40% indigenous. By other counts, where mixed-race, ladino groups are included, the native population reaches almost 60%.

But from there, the two countries diverge. In Guatemala, indigenous people vote in percentages similar to ladinos, but they are not represented in the Congress in proportion to their numbers. Put another way, they vote, but have little access to power, both nationally and locally. Of 158 deputies in the Congress, only 12 are indigenous. Of 332 mayoralties throughout the country, 111 have an indigenous mayor.

Even in departments where the indigenous have an overwhelming majority, proportional representation lags. Quiche, Totonicapan, Alta Verapaz, Chimaltenango, and Solola together have 28 seats in the Congress, but only eight legislators are of native ethnicity. At...