Paraguay looks ahead to presidential elections.
| Autor | Gaudin, Andres |
In three months, Paraguay will hold a presidential election, called by the de facto regime to clean up its image. The regime was deeply damaged internationally by the hasty June 22, 2012, coup, in which all political parties participated, that toppled the constitutional, democratic government of President Fernando Lugo (NotiSur, July 13, 2012).
Paraguayans already know, however, that on April 21 the country will turn back the clock to the first half of the 20th century and again have a head of state from the Alianza Nacional Republicana (ANR), better known as the Partido Colorado (PC). The party governed Paraguay for more than 60 years, including during the bloody 35-year dictatorship of Gen. Alfredo Stroessner (1954-1989).
Barring a political tsunami, businessman Horacio Cartes will win the election. Multiple accusations and testimonies allege that Cartes amassed his fortune and "paid for" his recent full-bore entrance into politics with proceeds from money laundering and smuggling.
In any event, from an ethical and moral perspective, citizens have no winning options since the only candidates who are irreproachable in that regard are Lugo's heirs. But his movement is split between two candidates with little political history --Anibal Carrillo and Mario Ferreiro--who are also immersed in a degrading fight for party positions and have no possibility of repeating the great leap toward democracy that took place on Aug. 15, 2008, when the former Catholic bishop was inaugurated president.
The city's walls are covered with campaign posters, and candidates speak on radio and television every day. It is even rumored that in more than one case candidates have paid significant sums of money to get their photographs on the front page of some newspaper. The political platforms of the candidates are unknown, even in general terms.
Startling admission by congressional candidate "Here everyone knows that, for the country to progress, the issue of land ownership must be dealt with, but even though the campesinos and indigenous who are demanding parcels make up a large electoral group, no one wants to make promises that they will never be able to keep," said Daniel Duran, a candidate for deputy. "It is easier to take advantage of their poverty and go to the communities and buy their vote. In the Partido Colorado, we all do it, it is no secret, and the other parties do it as well. Votes are bought, judges are bought, here in Paraguay, everything is bought...
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