Alejandro Giammattei facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Alejandro Giammattei
A formal portrait of Alejandro Giammattei from 2021.
51st President of Guatemala
In office 14 January 2020 – 14 January 2024
Vice President	Guillermo Castillo
Preceded by	Jimmy Morales
Succeeded by	Bernardo Arévalo
Personal details
Born	Alejandro Eduardo Giammattei Falla (1956-03-09) 9 March 1956 (age 69) Guatemala City, Guatemala
Political party	Vamos
Spouse	Rosana Cáceres (divorced)
Children	3, including Marcela
Cabinet	Cabinet of Alejandro Giammattei
Signature

Alejandro Eduardo Giammattei Falla (born March 9, 1956) is a politician from Guatemala. He served as the 51st President of Guatemala from 2020 to 2024.

Before becoming president, he worked as the director of Guatemala's prison system. He ran for president in the 2007, 2011, and 2015 elections but did not win. He was finally successful in the 2019 election and took office on January 14, 2020.

Political Career

Alejandro Giammattei was involved in politics for many years before becoming president. He helped organize national elections in 1985, 1988, and 1990. This work helped him become well-known in Guatemala and other countries.

Starting in 2000, he worked as a consultant for different companies. In 2006, he was chosen to be the director of Guatemala's prison system. He left this job in 2008.

Giammattei tried to become president three times before he was elected.

• In 2007, he ran with the Great National Alliance (GANA) party.
• In 2011, he ran with the Social Action Center Party.
• In 2015, he ran with the FUERZA party.

Finally, in 2019, he won the presidential election as the candidate for the Vamos party.

Presidency (2020–2024)

Giammattei takes the oath of office on January 14, 2020.

Giammattei became president of Guatemala on January 14, 2020. He took over from the previous president, Jimmy Morales. His time in office included several major challenges and controversies.

Disagreements Over the Budget

In November 2020, Guatemala faced a political crisis after the government passed a new budget. Many people were unhappy because the budget planned to spend a lot of money on large projects run by private companies. Critics said it did not do enough to fight poverty or help children's health.

The budget also increased the country's public debt. This led to large protests, and even the Vice President, Guillermo Castillo Reyes, suggested that Giammattei should resign. The government also faced criticism for how it handled the COVID-19 pandemic.

Accusations of Corruption

During his presidency, Giammattei's government faced accusations of corruption. Corruption is when public officials use their power dishonestly, often for personal gain.

In 2021, the head of the Special Prosecutor's Office against Impunity, Juan Francisco Sandoval, was dismissed. He had been planning to investigate corruption cases connected to the president. This decision led to more protests, with some people demanding that the president resign.

After he left office, some foreign governments took action against Giammattei because of these corruption concerns.

Foreign Policy

Giammattei was active in foreign relations. He showed strong support for Israel and promised to follow the United States' policy on Israeli settlements.

During the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, he was the first Latin American leader to visit Ukraine. He visited towns like Bucha and encouraged other countries to support Ukraine.

End of His Term

By the end of his presidency, Giammattei was not very popular. Many people in Guatemala were unhappy with the high cost of living and an increase in crime. In 2023, a poll showed that very few people thought his government was doing a good job.

After His Presidency

On January 17, 2024, just after his term ended, the U.S. State Department announced that Giammattei was barred from entering the United States. The U.S. government accused him of "significant corruption" during his time as president.

In April 2025, the British government also took action. It barred Giammattei from entering the United Kingdom and froze any assets he had there, also because of corruption accusations.

Personal Life

Giammattei with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in September 2022.

Giammattei married Rosana Cáceres in 1989, and they have three children. The couple had separated by the time he became president in 2019. Because of this, his daughter, Marcela, served as the First Lady of Guatemala.

Giammattei has multiple sclerosis, a condition that affects his ability to walk, so he uses crutches.

His grandfather was from Italy, which allowed Giammattei to get Italian citizenship in addition to his Guatemalan citizenship.

Honors

• Taiwan: Order of Brilliant Jade, Grand Cordon (awarded on April 20, 2023)