Paraguayan Government Attempts to Block Opposition Candidate

Paraguay’s right-wing government resorted to the Supreme Court on November 9 to challenge the presidential candidacy of Fernando Lugo, a leading progressive politician and ousted ex-president. Since he announced his candidacy in June, Lugo has faced stiff resistance from the conservative Colorado and Liberal parties that impeached the progressive former president in 2012. Lugo’s presidency broke a 

six-decade long stretch of conservative rule in Paraguay when he was elected in 2008. His impeachment, a consequence of the Curuguaty Massacre, represented a strong conservative political tradition in the country and resisted the left-wing political trends in Latin America at the time.

According to members of the leading Colorado Party (ANR-PC), Lugo’s current bid for a second presidency is unconstitutional. Wildo Aldiron, a member of the ANR-PC, recently stated, “It would be absurd for the Supreme Court to rule against our request because we are absolutely convinced that Article 229 clearly says that ex-presidents cannot run for reelection.” In recent weeks, the right-wing party struck a critical tone as it referred to Lugo’s efforts as a “misleading campaign” while clearly delineating between their contrasting views.

Despite these accusations, Lugo continues to speak out, calling President Cartes’ advisors “imbeciles” and thanking the government for “free propaganda.” Regarding the legality of his campaign, the ex-bishop stated that the constitution “[does] not mention whether a former president could be vetoed or prohibited [to run in the election].” As a current senator, Lugo argues his most recent election exemplifies the legal basis for his candidacy, and, as a result, he argues that the constitution preserves his right to run and emboldens him to fight for all Paraguayan citizens.

Lugo’s candidacy comes at a time of questioning in liberal Latin American politics and represents an important political uncertainty for Paraguay. It is difficult to tell where the nation will be in four years, but it is certain that Fernando Lugo is an important piece of that future.