2023-05-02 17:25:24
The commander of the Paraguayan National Police, Gilberto Fleitas, reported this Tuesday that some 80 people have been arrested as a result of the riots and mobilizations led by groups dissatisfied with the results of Sunday’s general elections, and indicated that the streets have already been cleared. national and international routes.
“We are already calm, with tranquility, (so) that citizens can carry out their normal activities, both educational and labor institutions as well”declared Fleitas to EFE.
The police chief confirmed that there were roadblocks and street closures in different locations, as well as the burning of a police patrol and “some damage”.
Fleitas also reported “the apprehension of almost 80 people” and indicated that the headquarters of the Superior Electoral Tribunal (TSJE), in Asunción, the capital of the country, remains guarded by the military and police.
This Monday, the Association of Transporters of the Interior of Paraguay (ATIP) announced the suspension of its services, “in the absence of guarantees and in protection of passengers and officials.”
Consulted by ABC Cardinal radio, the Deputy Minister of Transportation, Óscar Stark, indicated that between 5:30 and 8:00 local time (9:30 and 12:00 GMT) they had a decrease of around 30% in the number of buses that operate normally.
Stark clarified that with the passing of the hours “they are converging to normal numbers” of buses in operation, and estimated that the transport service works around 85%.
The day before, followers of the former independent candidate Paraguayo Cubas gathered in the vicinity of the TSJE, who has denounced an alleged “fraud” in the general elections, in which the official Santiago Peña prevailed in the presidential elections and the ruling Colorado Party won a majority of the Senate and 15 of the country’s 17 governorships.
Former candidates Efraín Alegre and Euclides Acevedo, who finished in second and fourth place in the presidential election, also called for the manual counting of the votes and an international audit of the software of the machines.
Those on Sunday were the first general elections to have electronic voting machines, a system that was launched experimentally in 2020 with the elections of the Council of the Magistracy.
With 99.94% of the polling stations counted, Peña has 1,292,079 votes (42.74%) and Alegre has 830,842 votes (27.48%), according to data from the preliminary electoral results transmission system (TREP).
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