Título II. Quien puede instar la expropiación

The following may initiate expropriation:

a.The State in the following cases:

1.When it involves property necessary to carry out works of national interest;

2.When it involves incorporating private property into the public domain to satisfy a public need;

3.When it is the indispensable means for property that is in the private domain, belonging to natural or juridical persons, to be acquired by the generality of the inhabitants to satisfy their needs or to carry out plans for social or economic improvement;

4.When it involves incorporating into the private domain of the State property appropriate for the performance of its functions;

b.The municipalities, when the necessity, utility or interest of the municipality require expropriation, in the situations of the preceding paragraph;

c.Contractors or concessionaires of public services or of works and services of public utility, as to everything that is necessary and convenient to be able to satisfactorily fulfill the purposes of the contract or concession;

d.Private enterprises or companies when they are legally authorized; and

e.The University of San Carlos of Guatemala when it involves property indispensable to carry out its mission.