Paraguya’s ruling right-wing Colorado Party consolidated its energy after voters elected former Finance Minister Santiago Pena because the nation’s new president Sunday.
A 44-year-old economist, Pena fought off a center-left challenger, who had railed in opposition to endemic institutional corruption, and took the election with greater than 42% of the votes, outcomes confirmed.
Sixty-year-old challenger Efrain Alegre of the Concertacion center-left coalition garnered practically 27.5% regardless of having gone into the vote with a slender lead in opinion polls.
The end result bucked a latest anti-incumbency pattern in Latin American elections with voters repeatedly punishing institution events, typically in favor of leftist rivals.
The Colorado Party has been ruled nearly frequently since 1947 – via an extended and brutal dictatorship and because the return of democracy in 1989, however has been tainted by corruption claims.
Pena’s political mentor, ex-president and Colorado Party chief Horacio Cartes, was just lately sanctioned by the United States over graft.
Pena thanked Cartes in his first public deal with as president-elect for his “stubborn dedication to the party,” to loud cheers from supporters at social gathering headquarters.
Conceding defeat, Alegre said: “The effort was not enough.”
Around 4.8 million of Paraguay’s 7.5 million inhabitants have been eligible to vote Sunday for a substitute for President Mario Abdo Benitez, who’s leaving workplace after a constitutionally restricted single five-year time period.
They additionally voted for brand spanking new lawmakers, with the Colorado Party profitable the very best share of the higher home Senate votes at 43%.
Voting is obligatory in Paraguay, although solely 63% turned out.
Key points for voters have been endemic corruption, a spiraling crime downside and poverty.
Ties to Taiwan
On the worldwide stage, Pena’s win defuses fears that Paraguay would finish diplomatic relations with Taiwan in favor of China.
Unlike his challenger, Pena had vowed to proceed recognizing the self-ruled democracy, which counts a dwindling variety of allies as Beijing pushes to isolate it.
Alegre had mooted a shift to China for the financial and commerce advantages.
On Monday, Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen congratulated Pena on his win.
“I look forward to furthering our countries’ longstanding relationship and to seeing the government and people of Paraguay prosper under your leadership,” she mentioned on Twitter.
Pena has additionally promised to maneuver Paraguay’s embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
Paraguay had beforehand moved its embassy in 2018, beneath Cartes, however reversed its determination inside months, elevating the ire of Israel.
“Yes, I would go back to Jerusalem,” Pena instructed AFP earlier than the vote.
“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?”
Moving an embassy to Jerusalem is very contentious. Israel claims all of Jerusalem as its capital whereas Palestinians view East Jerusalem because the capital of their future state.
Hoping for ‘least worse’
Like challenger Alegre, Pena is socially conservative, with sturdy stances in opposition to abortion and same-sex marriage in an overwhelmingly Catholic nation.
Alegre had repeatedly pointed to corruption within the Colorado Party.
Paraguay is ranked 137 out of 180 nations on Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index.
Paraguay’s gross home product (GDP) is anticipated to develop 4.8% in 2023, in keeping with the central financial institution, and 4.5%, in keeping with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) – one of many highest charges in Latin America.
But poverty plagues 1 / 4 of the inhabitants.
Paraguay’s Indigenous teams and inhabitants of squalid shantytowns really feel particularly uncared for, and plenty of had mentioned they might not vote.
Pena had pledged to create half-a-million jobs, with out saying how.
“From tomorrow (Monday) we will begin to design the Paraguay that we all want, without gross inequalities or unjust social asymmetries. We have a lot to do,” he mentioned in his victory speech.
Crime can be a priority, with an anti-mafia prosecutor, a crime-fighting mayor and a journalist murdered in 2022 as cartels settle scores.
Experts say landlocked Paraguay – nestled between Brazil, Bolivia and Argentina – has change into an necessary launchpad for medicine headed for Europe.
“We hope the least worse wins. All have their weaknesses,” Marta Fernandez, 29, instructed AFP after casting her poll in Asuncion.
Also within the capital, 60-year-old voter Ana Barros mentioned: “You have to have at least hope, that there will be less crime. It is what I hope as a mother, that the children can study and have work.”
Source: www.dailysabah.com
