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.
Below is a chronological account explaining how the events unfolded and why his conduct is now the subject of national debate.
August 2023 — The Video That Changed Everything
A video circulated on social media captured the congressman trying to force entry into a building on a Saturday night, and the clip depicts him shoving a security guard while struggling with the door.
Public reaction: The footage rapidly circulated online, prompting widespread condemnation over what many viewed as a misuse of authority and a clear failure to maintain 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 — Clash with the Justice System Over the “Semilla Case”
As tensions escalated between the judicial system and the ruling Semilla Movement party, a court ultimately authorized an injunction permitting Pérez to examine the case file known as the “Semilla Corruption Case,” overturning the earlier denial of his request.
The incident fueled the debate over transparency, due process, and the politicization of proceedings against figures in the ruling party.
January 14, 2025 — The Ripped Letter Within Congress
During the session marking the first year of the administration, Representative Neftalí Chocooj attempted to hand a letter to President Bernardo Arévalo. Pérez intercepted it and tore the page up 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 downplayed the complaint with irony (“sheeticide”) and dismissed the complainant.
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 pattern do these events reveal?
- Confrontational behavior both inside and outside his official capacity (shoving the guard; tearing up the letter).
- Institutional escalation: from a viral incident to a formal preliminary hearing.
- A context of polarization between the ruling party and the judicial system, which magnifies every 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.