Guatemala's congress approved on Wednesday a $500 million loan from the World Bank that the government has said will be used to pay down debt, freeing up funds for social spending.
The loan was supported by the government and its allies and passed with 86 votes in the Central American country's 160-seat legislature.
Finance Minister Alvaro Gonzalez Ricci said this month that the "indispensable" loan would save funds that could be used for social spending.
