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SearchCabal’s congressman will temporarily replace Julio Héctor Estrada at the helm of the legislative commission, which is beginning its review of a budget proposal totaling Q192,045.1 million.
Congressman Guillermo Antonio Ralda Conde, known as Willy Ralda, will temporarily assume the presidency of the Congress of Guatemala’s Public Finance and Currency Commission. The change comes as the commission prepares to analyze the proposed General Budget of State Revenues and Expenditures for 2027.
Congress President Luis Contreras confirmed that the Cabal caucus appointed Ralda to fill the position during Julio Héctor Estrada’s temporary absence. According to Prensa Libre, Centra News, and Soy502, the full Congress was expected to consider the change on Tuesday, October 6.
Estrada asked to step away temporarily from his legislative duties for health reasons and left the commission presidency for that period. Contreras said the leave had been authorized by the Board of Directors and would be unpaid. He also noted that the treatment could last a couple of weeks; this timeframe is an estimate attributed to the Congress president, not a confirmed duration of the absence.
The commission will review the 2027 budget initiative, which sets a proposed ceiling of Q192,045.1 million. The proposal was referred to the legislative commission on September 22, according to Prensa Libre. Planned activities include public hearings with institutions to examine their requirements and the justification for the resources they have requested. The schedule cited by that outlet provides for hearings from October 6 to 30.
The review is one stage of the legislative process: the commission can study the proposal and prepare an opinion, but the subsequent decision rests with the full Congress. Prensa Libre reported that the opinion was expected to be signed in November and could include changes before the initiative reached the full Congress. These steps and dates are reported projections, not outcomes that have already occurred.
For businesses and organizations following public finances, the change matters because Ralda will lead the commission during part of its review of the allocations proposed for the next fiscal year. The replacement, by itself, does not determine the budget’s final contents or whether it will be approved.
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