Who is paraguays president 2011

In May , a civil society organisation calling itself After Office Revolucionario AOR launched an unprecedented social media and public demonstration campaign that mobilised thousands of middle class urban professionals against undemocratic practices by Congress. Faced with growing protests, Congress backed down in May As the campaign grew, Congress became increasingly concerned.

The impeachment process conveniently served to divide the movement and undermine the campaign. Paraguay has the most unequal concentration of land ownership in Latin America, a situation that has worsened in the past decade due to the expansion of commercial agriculture especially soya and cattle ranching.

The wider role of Congress in blocking reforms also reflects the defective character of Paraguayan democracy. Party politics in Paraguay is notoriously clientelistic and self-interested, with the major parties constantly manoeuvring for political advantage, more motivated by the desire to regain or retain political power in terms of capture of the state, public posts and resources than any over-riding concern for the national interest. The impeachment of Lugo was not simply a coup against a reformist president by right-wing forces, a repeat of events in Honduras in Instead, it was a very Paraguayan affair, casting light on the limited nature of democracy in Paraguay and explicable only through an understanding of the complex internal dynamics of domestic politics.

However, the issue rapidly became a regional affair with far-reaching consequences. Following the sending of a high-level delegation of foreign ministers to Paraguay during the impeachment process, in an effort to show its support for Lugo, the South American Union, UNASUR, suspended Paraguayan membership until the elections, while ALBA members refused to recognise the new government. As the United States and the Organization of American States OAS wavered in their interpretation of events, calling for peaceful respect for democratic procedures, Latin America almost unanimously condemned the impeachment.

Regional opposition to the impeachment process sought to present itself as ideological, expressing a strong commitment to the defence of democracy and the integrity of president Lugo in the face of a highly questionable process. However, the pragmatic elements of decision-making by key players rapidly emerged. Venezuela had long sought entry to Mercosur not only to gain greater access to markets but also greater regional and international influence.

He entered politics in , according to the biography published on his website "maritoabdo. In , after the Colorado Party lost power, Benitez was elected vice-president of the party, a position he held until In , he was elected to the Senate and became known as a close ally of outgoing President Horacio Cartes. He was then elected leader of the Colorado caucus in the Senate, a position he held for the legislative session.

In June , he announced his candidacy for the presidency of the Colorado Party and faced off against another strong contender, Santiago Pena. Home United States U. Africa 54 - November 12, VOA Africa Listen live. VOA Newscasts Latest program. VOA Newscasts.

The Senate quickly followed suit and announced it would hold the trial on Friday, giving the left-wing president 24 hours to prepare his defence. Mr Lugo has faced severe criticism over his handling of a forced land eviction in which seven police officers and at least nine farmers were killed. He has said he will not resign but will "face the consequences" of the trial. Speaking on national television, Mr Lugo said: "This president announces that he is not going to present his resignation and that he will fully respect the constitution and the law to face the impeachment trial and its full consequences.

The Senate, the body which will decide whether or not to remove the president from office, is controlled by the opposition. Reports suggest only five out of 45 senators support Mr Lugo.

Following emergency talks, the Union of South American Nations said it would send an urgent mission of foreign ministers to Paraguay to "ensure the right to defend democracy". BBC regional analyst Leonardo Rocha says South American countries are worried that Mr Lugo, Paraguay's first left-wing president, is the victim of a political trial by right-wing groups which held power for 61 years before his election in