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British Embassy encourages political discussion and informed vote amongst Guatemalan youngsters

In the heads up to the Guatemalan General Election 2023 the British Embassy contributed to the creation of a video podcast made by youngsters for youngsters.

In an alliance with local media consortium of Prensa Libre and Guatevision, the Embassy sponsored a series of video podcasts entitled #PoliticaSinPajas (politics without foolery). Twenty episodes addressed several topics that mattered to youngsters in the context of the Guatemala General Election 2023, encouraging them to engage in a healthy discussion and to vote.

Guatemala headed to the polls on 25 June to elect President, Vice President, Congress Representatives (including the Central American Parliament) and Mayors. A second Presidential round took place on 20 August. According to official statistics, approximately 41 percent of the electoral roll is made up of young people between the ages of 18 and 35. The total people entitled to vote in this election was around 9.3 million citizens.

The episodes aired once a week from the end of March to August, coinciding with the electoral process, reaching audiences thought the most popular social medial channels of Prensa Libre and Guatevision. The format consisted of one-hour programmes conducted by youngsters, with the support of relevant experts on each of the topics and live interactions with social media audiences.

The list of topics addressed were:

  1. Why elections matter?
  2. What are the duties of the President and Congressmen?
  3. The role of the Mayor
  4. The role of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal
  5. How not to fall for false information during election time
  6. The reason behind the number of political parties in Guatemala
  7. The elections and chances of fraud, is it feasible?
  8. How to assess campaign promises
  9. How do political parties get their financing
  10. Gender equality in politics (why are more men than women?)
  11. Advice for a conscious vote and closing episode - Season 1
  12. The work of the Vice-president
  13. Women breaking barriers in Congress
  14. What happened after the first round of elections?
  15. Interview with Presidential Candidate Bernardo Arevalo
  16. How to include indigenous peoples in politics
  17. Will the country overcome this political crisis?
  18. The final stretch of the elections
  19. Interview to Vice President Elect, Karin Herrera
  20. Talking with young, elected Mayors

(the organizers of this project invited all candidates leading the polls for interview, not all of them accepted)

The British Ambassador to Guatemala, Nick Whittingham, said:

From the beginning, the objective of this alliance was to promote an informed vote, talking with experts, and knowing the concerns of young people about their future. I congratulate the team that came together for the project and their creative ideas for sending these messages.

The Editorial Director of Prensa Libre and Guatevision, Domenica Velasquez, said:

We thought it was important to do something different, and youngsters talking to youngsters speaking positively about politics and the responsibility we uphold as citizens, would be critical to build a better country. Thanks to the British Embassy for supporting this effort.

Each of the episodes will remain available as an informative tool for youngsters and public in general to reach.

Why elections matter?

What are the duties of the President and Congressmen?

The role of Mayors

The role of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal

How not to fall for false information during election time

The reason behind the number of political parties in Guatemala

The elections and chances of fraud, is it feasible?

How to assess campaign promises

How do political parties get their financing

Gender equality in politics (why are more men than women?)

Advice for a conscious vote and closing episode

The work of the Vice-president

Women breaking barriers in Congress

What happened after the first round of elections?

Interview with Presidential Candidate Bernardo Arevalo

How to include indigenous peoples in politics

Will the country overcome this political crisis?

The final stretch of the elections

Interview to Vice President Elect, Karin Herrera

Talking with young elected Mayors

Published 2 June 2023