Legislators from various benches presented the accusatory libel against the attorney general of Paraguay, Sandra Quiñónez, singled out for providing protection to former President Horacio Cartes. This Friday, the former president whose government was established between 2013 and 2018, was accused by the United States of “significantly corrupt.” Cartes, a friend and presumed partner of former Argentine President Mauricio Macri, entered the Engel list where those who enter are prohibited from entering the country, as well as access to their money in US accounts.
political trial
The impeachment request was presented by opposition parliamentarians and party members of the National Republican Association-Colorado Party. It is the third time that Quiñónez faces this parliamentary process that requires the support of 53 legislators of the 80 that make up the Deputies.
The Chamber of Deputies was summoned to deal with the request for impeachment of the prosecutor for this Sunday. So far, the measure has the votes of 16 Colorado legislators and 23 from opposition parties.
Quiñónez is accused of hindering and delaying investigations involving the former president due to their close ties. The pre-candidate for president and senator of the opposition Guasu Front, Esperanza Martínez pointed to the accusations in the Washington report published this Friday and claimed that The Prosecutor’s Office only “observes, does not investigate and guarantees impunity.”
cooperation
Opportunely, Sandra Quiñónez and the Federal Prosecutor and counselor of the Department of Justice of the Embassy of the United States in Paraguay, Brian Skaret, met this Saturday morning to prepare and coordinate the visit of the FBI and the DEA. According to the social networks of the prosecution, the meeting has the objective of cooperating with the United States government with open cases of corruption, fight against drug trafficking and financing of terrorism.
The former president of Paraguay was added to the Engel List of “significantly corrupt” politicians and businessmen for obstructing a transnational investigation. “Cartes used the Presidency of Paraguay to obstruct an investigation involving his partner,” said the United States ambassador to Paraguay, Marc Ostfield, referring to the case of money changer Darío Messer, who was being investigated for corruption in Brazil, and was a fugitive from justice and was arrested in Paraguay. Cartes and Messer are suspected of being partners and that the former president helped him hide.
According to the northern country, the legal obstruction of Cartes had the objective of cushioning the political and legal risk for his person. “This allowed him to continue participating in corrupt activities, including his ties to terrorist organizations,” added the Joe Biden government.
For its part, Horacio Cartes defended himself in a speech this Saturday during the birthday of the candidate for governor of Guairá, César Luis Sosa. “If we talk about corruption, time will put everything in its place, it will be known who the corrupt ones are,” he affirmed.