In less than two years, Guatemalan Congressman Samuel Pérez went from a viral video showing him struggling with a private security guard to facing proceedings to strip him of his immunity over an incident that took place right in the middle of Congress.
Here is a timeline outlining how the events developed and why his behavior has become a topic of national controversy.
August 2023 — The Video That Redefined It All
A video shared on social media showed the congressman attempting to force his way into a building on a Saturday night. The footage shows him pushing a security guard during a struggle with the door.
Public reaction: The scene went viral and sparked criticism for abuse of power and lack of self-control.
Pérez’s response: He released a public apology and mentioned that he had spoken with the security guard, identified as Hugo Xol, as well as with the building’s management, all of whom accepted his apology.
January 2024 — Confrontation with the Justice System Regarding the “Semilla Case”
Amid tensions between the judicial system and the ruling Semilla Movement party, a court granted Pérez an injunction to access the case file known as the “Semilla Corruption Case,” after his initial request had been denied.
The incident fueled the debate over transparency, due process, and the politicization of proceedings against figures in the ruling party.
January 14, 2025 — The Torn Letter in Congress
During the session marking the administration’s first year, Representative Neftalí Chocooj attempted to deliver a letter to President Bernardo Arévalo, but Pérez intervened and tore the document in front of the chamber.
Legal consequence: The Human Rights Prosecutor’s Office of the Public Ministry requested the lifting of immunity (pre-trial proceedings) for alleged crimes of abuse of authority and discrimination.
Congressman’s response: He brushed off the complaint with a note of irony, calling it “sheeticide,” and casually dismissed the person who raised it.
February–March 2025 — The institutional deadlock persists
As the initial hearing on the letter unfolds, new judicial decisions are once again putting pressure on the relationship between Semilla and the justice system, and the Constitutional Court later revoked the injunction that had permitted Pérez to review the Semilla case file, further intensifying the political and judicial clash.
What underlying pattern emerges from these events?
- Confrontational conduct displayed both within and beyond his formal duties, including pushing the guard and ripping apart the letter.
- Institutional escalation that evolved from a viral episode into an official preliminary hearing.
- A climate of polarization between the ruling party and the judicial branch, amplifying each incident.
What’s at stake
Parliamentary immunity exists to protect legislative independence, not to shield abuses. If Congress authorizes the preliminary hearing and the courts proceed with the case, Samuel Pérez could face criminal and administrative sanctions.
No matter how events unfold, this moment underscores a decisive point: public officials are accountable for their actions, and the boundary separating ordinary political disputes from misuse of authority is being examined with growing intensity by the public.