Santiago Peña won the presidency in Paraguay and confirms the hegemony of the Colorado Party

2023-05-01 03:08:45

The right-wing economist Santiago Peña, of the governmental Colorado Party, won the Paraguayan presidential election this Sunday by a wide margin, against the opposition Efraín Alegre, in an electoral process marked by accusations of corruption against the ruling party.

The conservative Peña obtained more than 42% of the votes, compared to Alegre, who, supported by a center-left coalition, obtained 27%, announced the electoral authority with more than 90% of the polling stations counted.

In third place was Paraguayo Cubas, a former right-wing anti-establishment legislator, with 22%. Participation was 63%.

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Peña, 44, must replace President Mario Abdo Benítez from August 15 for a period of five years.

In his first words, he thanked former president Horacio Cartes (2013-18), his political godfather, sanctioned by the United States as “significantly corrupt,” for the victory.

“Thank you very much my dear president of the National Republican Association (ANR, Colordo Party), Horacio Cartes. I admire the immensity of your stubborn dedication to the party, ”he said in his company, before the supporters who cheered them at the campaign command headquarters.

Shortly after the announcement of the electoral justice, Alegre conceded his defeat.

“The effort has not been enough. The majority of the people voted for the change, but due to the division it has not been possible. Citizens tell us that together we are the majority, ”he told the press.

– Red hegemony –

The Colorado Party has governed Paraguay for most of the last seven decades, under dictatorship and under democracy, with a single interruption during the government of leftist Fernando Lugo (2008-12), who was ousted in impeachment a year before finishing his term. mandate

The Colorados “in adversity know how to overcome obstacles to remain in power,” Roberto Codas, a political and economic analyst at the Business Development consultancy, told AFP.

“In this case, ‘Payo’ Cubas helped him, who was left as the third force. He took votes from both groups, but the most affected were the opponents of the Concertación, ”he said.

– “Significantly corrupt” –

The electoral campaign took place simultaneously with US sanctions against some of the most important Colorado leaders, such as Cartes and Vice President Hugo Velázquez.

Paraguay, in the center of South America, is considered a transit point for drugs to Brazil and Argentina for their departure to Europe and Asia.

In 2022, the anti-mafia prosecutor Marcelo Pecci and the mayor José Carlos Acevedo were assassinated, in crimes attributed to drug trafficking.

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Although Paraguay has one of the fastest growing economies in Latin America – with a forecast of 4.5% of GDP for 2023, according to the International Monetary Fund – poverty reaches 24.7%, with enormous inequalities.

Peña has proposed creating 500,000 jobs. “From tomorrow (Monday) we will begin to design the Paraguay that we all want, without gross inequalities or unfair social asymmetries. We have a lot to do,” Peña said in his victory speech.

For economic analyst Rubén Ramírez, the Peña government will be “comfortable” for investors, who value Paraguay’s economic stability.

“He is young, he was a member of the Council of the Central Bank, he was Minister of Finance, a former official of the International Monetary Fund, and he knows the codes of development of a country facing the outside world in economic matters,” he said.

– Between Taiwan and Jerusalem –

Controversial foreign policy issues were also touched on in the campaign.

Peña defended the ties with Taiwan, in the face of statements by Alegre, who had said that if he won he would analyze the continuity of those diplomatic ties, since “they mean the loss of one of the largest markets that is China.”

The president-elect also said that he intends to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, by announcing his willingness to move the headquarters of his embassy to that city again, a measure that, in line with Donald Trump, Cartes had taken at the end of his government and that Abdo reversed.

“The State of Israel recognizes Jerusalem as its capital. The seat of the Congress is in Jerusalem, the president is in Jerusalem. So who are we to question where they establish their own capital?” Peña told AFP.