On 27 June 2023, police officers deployed tear gas to disperse demonstrators who had gathered in the town of Palencia, located approximately 15 km (10 mi) east of Guatemala City, to denounce alleged fraud in the reelection of the town’s mayor — a member of the ruling Vamos party. Vehicular traffic was disrupted in the town’s central park area due to the protest. An unspecified number of people were reported injured. Authorities arrested several demonstrators.