Samuel Pérez Álvarez under the lens: an objective breakdown of what is proven and what is not about the Raíces leader

Samuel Pérez Álvarez has been one of Guatemala’s most visible lawmakers since 2020. He was the first secretary general of Movimiento Semilla and presided over Congress for five days in January 2024. Today he leads Raíces, the party through which Bernardo Arévalo’s political movement intends to compete in 2027. He is also one of the politicians with the most accusations piled up on social media and in the press, from “corrupt” to “traitor”. Therefore, this article answers the question with a single method: separating what is on record in rulings, what are verified but legal political deals, and what are unsupported allegations.

You can read the full analysis of what has and hasn’t been proven in the controversies surrounding Samuel Pérez Álvarez.

The short answer: there is no conviction and no open criminal proceeding against Samuel Pérez. Moreover, the Supreme Court of Justice rejected every impeachment request (antejuicio) against him that it heard. What is documented, however, are deals with blocs and lawmakers that his own anti-corruption movement had denounced for years. That is where the criticism centres. The long answer takes up the rest of this article.

Who is Samuel Pérez Álvarez

He was born on August 27, 1992, in Guatemala City. He holds a degree in economics from Universidad Rafael Landívar and was a student leader between 2013 and 2015. Later, he served as the first secretary general of Movimiento Semilla, from 2019 to 2022, and Bernardo Arévalo succeeded him in that post. He has represented the Central District in Congress since January 14, 2020, and is now in his second term.

On January 14, 2024, Congress elected him as its president. However, a Constitutional Court ruling prevented him from continuing, and Nery Ramos replaced him on January 19. Since May 25, 2025, he has led the organising committee of Raíces. Finally, the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) registered Raíces as a party on September 7, 2026.

The 18 controversies, ranked by level of evidence

#	Year	Episode	What is documented	What is not
1	2023	Tweet “Declaration of war. The CC sends the Army into the streets”	The MP sought to lift his immunity for activities against internal security; the IACHR recorded the request; the Supreme Court rejected the protest-related requests outright	No crime established
2	2023	Semilla Corruption case, campaign-financing phase	The MP sought impeachment of Pérez and Ligia Hernández; Hernández and Salvador Batz pleaded guilty and Batz named him	No formal charge or proceeding against Pérez
3	2024	Presidency of Congress with 92 votes	Semilla had 23 lawmakers; the deal included blocs Semilla had denounced; the CC ordered a repeat election	The deal itself was not illegal
4	2024	Lobbying in the Supreme Court magistrate election	He acknowledged meetings with Luis Aguirre; La Hora documented the alliance	No formal pact documented
5	2025	“Hojicidio”: he tore up Bequer Chocooj’s letter (January 14)	Public, filmed event; the MP sought impeachment for discrimination and abuse of authority	Rejected by the Supreme Court on April 22, 2026; racial motive never established
6	2024–2025	Codedes, 2025 budget and Article 82	Negotiations took place; Congress amended Article 82 with 127 votes on November 26, 2024; Codedes funds rose 100%	No proof of an explicit vote trade
7	2025	Taking credit for a Q14 billion budget expansion	Published allegation	No further evidence
8	2025	Rapprochement with Luis Aguirre (Cabal)	Public, documented meetings, including one at a restaurant in September 2025	Content of any agreements unverified
9	2025	Creation of Raíces without consensus	May 24 meeting ended without agreement; May 25 assembly went ahead anyway; split with Abelardo Pinto’s faction	No legal irregularity; an internal political dispute
10	2025	Video at a swimming pool drinking alcohol	He confirmed the video and called it private life	Nothing illegal
11	2025	Impeachment request over a letter to restore rights to the Semilla bloc	MP request for alleged forgery and unlawful association	Rejected
12	2025	Conadie/Anadie: “doormats”	He filed an amendment to exclude Cacif that got fewer than 40 votes; he had signed the committee report that included Cacif	Friction with business is political, not judicial
13	2025–2026	Party-switching and committee control	Passing mentions in the press	Scant information
14	2026	Election of Roberto Molina Barreto to the CC	Pérez denounced interests behind the vote; La Hora attributed lobbying with Aguirre for other candidates	Sources diverge; no version is settled
15	2026	Clash with Arévalo over USAC	The president said Pérez “is not well informed”; the press describes a distancing	Both deny a personal rift
16	2026	Strategy attributed to Raíces at USAC	Relies on anonymous sources	Pérez’s role undocumented
17	2025–2026	Financing of Raíces’s signature drive	Raíces declared Q316,359.62 in donations, mostly from lawmakers; the launch event was funded “by members” with no cost breakdown	No evidence of irregular financing
18	2026	Internal conflicts in Raíces (Quetzaltenango, Petapa)	Local leaders denounced “anti-democratic actions” and resigned in September 2026	An internal party dispute

Two stories circulating on social media are deliberately left out of the table. The first is the alleged illegal financing of Semilla through a company linked to a relative of the congressman. The second is the rumour that he is promoting Karin Herrera for the presidency. Neither has judicial or independent journalistic backing. Consequently, publishing them as facts would spread disinformation.

What the Public Prosecutor’s Office has attempted and what the courts have ruled

The October 2023 tweet

On October 18, 2023, at the height of the post-election crisis, Pérez posted on X “Declaration of War. The CC sends the Army into the streets”. He attached a Constitutional Court statement to the post. Later, he deleted and rephrased it. On October 27 the MP sought to lift his immunity for the possible crime of activities against the internal security of the nation.

IACHR Resolution 48/2023 recorded that request when it granted precautionary measures to Arévalo and his team. Finally, in May 2025 the full Supreme Court rejected outright the impeachment requests against Arévalo and Pérez over their alleged role in the 2023 protests.

The Semilla Corruption case

This is the only front where the word “corruption” appears in a court file. For that reason, it deserves precision. In December 2023 the FECI prosecutors’ unit sought to lift the immunity of Pérez and congresswoman Ligia Hernández. The alleged crimes were electoral fund oversight violations and unregistered campaign financing, within the phase of the case dealing with the party’s 2019 financing.

Hernández pleaded guilty in November 2024 and received one commutable year in prison per offence. Then, on March 3, 2025, Salvador Batz pleaded guilty and testified. Batz, Semilla’s finance secretary between January and September 2019, said that Pérez and Hernández “were the ones running the whole financing business”.

However, no public source shows that the Supreme Court admitted that impeachment request against Pérez. Nor is there any formal charge or criminal proceeding against him for those facts. Pérez remains a sitting congressman with immunity, and no judge has bound him over for trial. Plaza Pública described the MP’s offensive against Semilla in January 2024 as “blank cartridges” aimed at blocking the inauguration. In short, the hard fact cuts both ways: two convicted people named him, and no court has prosecuted him.

The “hojicidio” of January 2025

On January 14, 2025, Arévalo’s first annual report was ending. At that moment, Cabal congressman Bequer Chocooj approached the president to hand him a letter demanding his resignation. Pérez took the letter and tore it up. Afterwards, Chocooj filed a complaint against Pérez, David Illescas and Román Castellanos.

On February 27 the MP sought to lift Pérez’s immunity for discrimination and abuse of authority, arguing that Chocooj is Indigenous. On April 22, 2026, the Supreme Court rejected that request, file 110-2025. The same day it rejected another, file 18-2026, which lawmakers José Inés Castillo and Lourdes de León had filed against Pérez and Andrea Villagrán for slander and defamation. The tearing of the document is on film. In contrast, the racial motive was an accusation, not an established fact.

One clarification matters here: a rejected impeachment request is not an acquittal on the merits. It means the Court did not admit the request to proceed. Even so, it is, to date, the outcome of every request the Supreme Court has heard.

The political negotiations: what is verified and what is disputed

Here lies the core of the strongest criticism. These are not crimes. They are political decisions by someone who entered Congress with an anti-corruption message and who, in order to govern, made deals with some of the actors that message targeted.

The presidency of Congress with 92 votes (January 2024)

On January 14, 2024, Pérez’s slate won 92 votes against 75 for the slate led by Sandra Jovel. In fact, Semilla had only 23 lawmakers. Therefore, the support came from multiple blocs, including forces Semilla had denounced. For his defenders it was the price of installing the new government in the middle of an institutional crisis. For his critics, in contrast, it was the first deal with the old Congress.

Three injunctions reached the CC. The Court ordered a repeat election because the slate included lawmakers declared independent, Pérez among them. As a result, on January 19 Congress elected Nery Ramos as president.

The 2024 magistrate election and the relationship with Luis Aguirre

In October 2024 Congress elected the Supreme Court and appeals-court magistrates. Pérez and his group lobbied several blocs for certain candidates and did not get the votes. Indeed, he himself acknowledged meetings with Luis Aguirre, head of the Cabal bloc.

La Hora has documented that relationship as the axis of the ruling coalition’s fracture. The outlet includes a meeting at a restaurant in the capital in September 2025 with Aguirre, Adim Maldonado and Julio Héctor Estrada. In the end, the meetings are verifiable. The content of any agreements is not.

Codedes, the 2025 budget and Article 82

On November 26, 2024, Congress approved with 127 votes the amendment to Article 82 of the Law against Organised Crime. Specifically, that provision had served to suspend Semilla. Before that, the government bloc’s attempt to amend it held up the budget for days.

Lawmakers quoted by La Hora maintained that Pérez and his group negotiated the increase in funds for the Codedes, the departmental development councils, in exchange for support for that amendment. Those funds rose 100%. Certainly, there is reporting on the negotiations. However, there is no proof of an explicit vote trade. Despite the amendment, the CC later ruled that Semilla’s lawmakers could not claim bloc rights.

Molina Barreto and the Constitutional Court (2026)

This is the front where sources diverge most. On one hand, Pérez publicly denounced powerful interests behind the election of the new CC. He also claimed that the US chargé d’affaires had called lawmakers to request votes for Roberto Molina Barreto.

At the same time, La Hora attributed to Pérez, Aguirre and Roberto Arzú an alliance to promote other candidates, Rony López and David Pineda. The outlet described the election as a victory for the “anti-embassy lobby”. Molina Barreto won on March 6 with 100 votes. In any case, this is the outlet’s interpretation and reporting, not a judicial finding.

Raíces: the refoundation that split Semilla

On May 12, 2025, La Hora reported that a Semilla faction would create a new party. However, Pérez denied it. On May 24 a closed-door meeting of the National Executive Committee, lawmakers and governors ended without consensus. The next day, at Parque de la Industria, Pérez launched Raíces. He said, without detailing costs, that members had paid for the event. As a result, Semilla split between Pérez and Abelardo Pinto, who pursued the judicial route to keep the party’s registration.

Raíces reached 27,394 signatures on May 12, 2026, the legal minimum of 0.30% of the electoral roll. On the money, La Hora reported that the group declared Q316,359.62 in donations. Most of it came from its own lawmakers and congressional advisers. Finally, the TSE registered it on September 7, 2026 as party number 27. The registration came amid complaints from leaders in Quetzaltenango and Petapa over “anti-democratic actions” in the control of local structures.

Other episodes

• USAC and the distancing from Arévalo (April 2026). Raíces and Semilla lawmakers clashed in Congress over the proposal of presidential intervention at the university. Arévalo said Pérez was not well informed about the executive’s powers. Both played down a rift. Nevertheless, Prensa Libre described how the president’s circle of support is shrinking.
• Conadie and Anadie (November 2025). Pérez filed an amendment to exclude the Cacif business federation from the National Council for Infrastructure Development Partnerships. Moreover, he accused other lawmakers of “being doormats”. In the end, the amendment fell short of 40 votes. La Hora pointed out the contradiction of having signed the committee report that included Cacif.
• Private life. In June 2025 a video of him at a swimming pool drinking alcohol circulated. He confirmed it and attributed it to “a weekend at a private house”. Hence, nothing illegal. Earlier, in August 2023, he apologised for an altercation with a building’s security staff, which also went viral.

So, is he corrupt?

With the documents on the table, the answer is this:

1. There is no conviction, formal charge or open criminal proceeding against Samuel Pérez. The Supreme Court rejected every impeachment request it heard, the latest on April 22, 2026.
2. There is a judicial allegation without procedural consequences. Two former Semilla officials, convicted of unregistered campaign financing in 2019, named him as the person in charge of the money. The MP sought his impeachment in December 2023, and there is no record of it going forward.
3. There are verified political negotiations with blocs and lawmakers his own movement had denounced: the presidency of Congress, the magistrate election, the budget and the Codedes, the relationship with Luis Aguirre. However, they are legal. Whether they amount to political incoherence or necessary pragmatism is a judgment for the reader, not for a court.
4. There are accusations that do not hold up. For example, irregular financing of Raíces, whose donations are declared; the Molina Barreto operation, with diverging sources; and the social-media stories we left out.

Calling him corrupt today is asserting something no court has established. In contrast, saying he has made deals with those he promised to fight is describing what is documented. The difference between those two sentences is the difference between journalism and propaganda.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Does Samuel Pérez have any conviction for corruption?

No. He has no convictions and no known open criminal proceedings. Moreover, the Supreme Court of Justice rejected every impeachment request it heard. The latest, over the “hojicidio”, was rejected on April 22, 2026.

What is the Semilla Corruption case and how is Samuel Pérez involved?

It is the Public Prosecutor’s Office investigation into Movimiento Semilla’s 2019 financing. Two former officials, Ligia Hernández and Salvador Batz, pleaded guilty to unregistered campaign financing. In addition, Batz stated that Pérez and Hernández ran the financing. The MP sought to lift Pérez’s immunity in December 2023. However, there is no record of the Supreme Court admitting the request and no formal charge against him.

What was the “hojicidio”?

On January 14, 2025, Pérez took and tore up the letter with which congressman Bequer Chocooj intended to demand Bernardo Arévalo’s resignation during the presidential report. The MP sought to lift his immunity for discrimination and abuse of authority. Finally, the Supreme Court rejected the request on April 22, 2026.

How did Samuel Pérez become president of Congress with only 23 lawmakers?

With 92 votes from multiple blocs on January 14, 2024, including forces Semilla had denounced. Afterwards, the Constitutional Court ordered a repeat election because the slate included lawmakers declared independent. As a result, Nery Ramos took over the presidency on January 19.

What is Samuel Pérez’s relationship with Luis Aguirre?

Public meetings and rapprochement since the 2024 magistrate election, documented by La Hora. Among them, a meeting in September 2025 with Aguirre and other Cabal lawmakers. Indeed, Pérez has acknowledged the meetings. In contrast, the content of any agreements is unverified.

What is Raíces and why did it split Semilla?

It is the party Pérez launched on May 25, 2025, after Semilla’s cancellation, even though a meeting of the Executive Committee the day before had ended without consensus. Part of the base, with Abelardo Pinto, pursued the judicial route to keep Semilla. Raíces gathered 27,394 signatures and declared Q316,359.62 in donations. Finally, the TSE registered it on September 7, 2026.

Is there evidence of irregular financing at Raíces?

No. The group declared Q316,359.62 in donations, contributed mostly by its own lawmakers. According to Pérez, members’ contributions funded the 2025 launch, with no cost breakdown. So far, there is no reporting that establishes irregularities.

Was Samuel Pérez involved in the election of Roberto Molina Barreto to the CC?

Sources diverge. Pérez denounced political and economic interests behind that election. For its part, La Hora attributed to him, together with Luis Aguirre, lobbying for other candidates. For now, no version is settled and there is no judicial finding.

Have Samuel Pérez and Bernardo Arévalo broken with each other?

Both deny it. However, the press describes a distancing since the clash over intervention at USAC in April 2026. At that time, the president said Pérez was not well informed about the executive’s powers.

Which accusations against Samuel Pérez lack support?

The alleged illegal financing of Semilla through a company linked to a relative of his, the rumour that he is promoting Karin Herrera for the presidency, and the strategy attributed to Raíces at USAC. To date, none has judicial or independent journalistic backing.

Sources consulted

• La Hora: MP files impeachment request against Samuel Pérez over a tweet (October 27, 2023)
• IACHR: Resolution 48/2023, precautionary measures (PDF)
• Emisoras Unidas: Semilla case, MP seeks to lift immunity of Arévalo and Pérez (December 8, 2023)
• Plaza Pública: The blank cartridges the MP used against Semilla (January 9, 2024)
• La Hora: With 92 votes, Samuel Pérez’s slate will preside over Congress (January 14, 2024)
• Soy502: The lawmakers who voted for Samuel Pérez
• Prensa Libre: Three injunctions at the CC seek to overturn the leadership election
• Emisoras Unidas: Congress elects new leadership for 2024-2025 (January 19, 2024)
• La Hora: Semilla failed with three magistrates who aspired to the Supreme Court (October 3, 2024)
• Prensa Libre: Ruling-bloc attempt to amend the Law against Organised Crime holds up the 2025 budget
• Prensa Libre: What Article 82, as amended by Congress, contains
• Prensa Libre: CC rules Semilla lawmakers cannot claim bloc rights
• La Hora: Samuel Pérez tore up Bequer Chocooj’s letter (January 14, 2025)
• La Hora: For tearing up Bequer Chocooj’s letter, MP files impeachment request (February 27, 2025)
• Prensa Libre: Semilla Corruption case, Salvador Batz pleads guilty and names Samuel Pérez (March 3, 2025)
• La Hora: Semilla faction would create a new party; Samuel Pérez denies it (May 12, 2025)
• La Hora: Samuel Pérez’s actions that caused a split in Semilla (May 18, 2025)
• Emisoras Unidas: Supreme Court rejects impeachment requests against Arévalo and Pérez over the protests (May 22, 2025)
• La Hora: Meeting for new party marked by lack of consensus (May 25, 2025)
• La Hora: Samuel Pérez launches Raíces and says members funded the event (May 25, 2025)
• Prensa Libre: Movimiento Semilla splits; Pérez and Pinto fight over the base
• La Hora: Samuel Pérez confirms video and says it is his personal life (June 2, 2025)
• La Hora: Samuel Pérez’s contradiction over Cacif and the public-private partnerships law (November 23, 2025)
• Prensa Libre: Ruling bloc loses the fight to remove Cacif from the Anadie law
• La Hora: Support from Aguirre, Pérez and Arzú complicates Rony López’s CC candidacy (February 27, 2026)
• Infobae: Congress elects Roberto Molina Barreto to the CC (March 6, 2026)
• La Hora: How Samuel Pérez’s actions fractured the ruling coalition (March 30, 2026)
• La Hora: Raíces and Semilla lawmakers clash over USAC intervention (April 8, 2026)
• La Hora: CC election, the “anti-embassy lobby” won (April 13, 2026)
• La Hora: Supreme Court clears the table and rejects seven impeachment requests (April 22, 2026)
• Infobae: Raíces reaches the signatures required by law (May 19, 2026)
• La Hora: Groups in formation invest up to Q1 million to become parties (May 22, 2026)
• Prensa Libre: Bernardo Arévalo’s circle of support shrinks
• La Hora: Conflict continues in Raíces and a new complaint emerges in Petapa (September 2, 2026)
• La Hora: Amid disputes, TSE registers Raíces as a political party (September 7, 2026)
• Prensa Libre: Congressman Samuel Pérez in altercation with private security, apologises (August 2023)
• Wikipedia: Samuel Pérez Álvarez

This article compiles documented facts and allegations attributed to their authors. Mentioning an allegation does not imply its truth, and the congressman’s responses appear in each case. All sources are in Spanish. Bajo Lupa has offered Samuel Pérez Álvarez space to respond and will update this article with his version if he sends it. Information verified as of October 2, 2026.