Paraguay considers consulting the people whether “to continue or not in Mercosur”
Paraguay’s government blasted Mercosur decision of incorporating Venezuela as a full member of the bloc “before finishing the legislative procedure to do so” and did not discard the possibility of having the Paraguayan people “decide whether to remain or not in Mercosur”.
President Federico Franco said Venezuela’s incorporation has “no legal recognition” adding that his country's suspension from Mercosur 'is illegal and illegitimate.'
Last Friday Mercosur summit in Mendoza province announced Venezuela will become a full member of the bloc. Paraguay’s government, led by Federico Franco following Fernando Lugo’s removal from power, considers that the measure “violates the fourth article of the Ushuaia protocol, which demands consultation with the affected state, which did not take place” according to a communiqué released by the Paraguayan Foreign Ministry.
Paraguayan Foreign Minister José Fernández stated “we are in the Mercosur and we are not allowed to enter. We will remain a part of the bloc until our people decide if we continue or not”.
Paraguay was suspended from Mercosur bloc until the 2013 presidential elections, after Fernando Lugo was removed from power in a two hour long impeachment trial. Federico Franco replaced him as president hours later.
The Union of South American Nations, Unasur in a similar decision following an emergency meeting in Mendoza also decided to suspend Paraguay until elections are held. The group also agreed to anticipate the transfer of the Unasur presidency, currently held by Paraguay, to Peru for the next twelve months.
Meanwhile removed president Lugo thanked Mercosur for not having implemented economic sanctions on Paraguay, and supported the incorporation of Venezuela to the block.
“I’m glad there is no sanction or economic blockade that would be harmful for the country and particularly for the humblest of our community. We are glad such sanctions have not been exercised” said Lugo interviewed by a Mendoza newspaper, the Argentine province where the Mercosur summit took place.
Regarding Paraguay’s suspension from Mercosur, Lugo said that “what happened was that the constitutional order has been ruptured and the people’s vote has not been respected, nor has there been the right to due process…”
Lugo celebrated the incorporation of Venezuela as full member of Mercosur, which had been delayed for years by the Paraguayan congress, the same lawmakers that finally had him impeached and removed from office.
“I have always questioned the Paraguayan parliament, how was it possible that three countries from Mercosur accepted Venezuela and they didn’t? How is it possible that the three countries are wrong and that the Paraguayan parliament is right?” said Lugo who added that Chile, Bolivia and Ecuador should be admitted as full members.
“I think we have a great chance to expand Mercosur, I’m hopeful Chile, Ecuador and Bolivia have the chance to join as full members and we can all unite in a great South American common market so that we have the sufficient strength to negotiate as equals with other regional markets in other continents”, concluded Lugo.
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I'd like to thank the Paraguayan elite though, after 5 years of effective door closing, they made Venezuelas incorporation to Mercosur happen, almost as fast as.... well, a Paraguayan trial :)
Why are people like yourself so afraid of democracy? Why do these fellow South American governments not like the fact that Paraguay acted within their constitution by impeaching their former President? Are they afraid that the same will happen to them.
I believe it is shameful how the other members of Mercosur have acted towards Paraguay, and now they are trying to bully them.
Well I hope that Paraguay gives the US a green light to build a huge military base in their country, and I hope they cede from Mercosur and join the Pacific Alliance instead.
Mercosur and Unasur acted correctly, you don't give any rupture of democracy time to explain itself. If you don't like the democratically elected President, fine, live with it. If he is guilty of mischarge, let a court decide. In proper manners, not just in paperworks. Two hours to prepare his defence is a disgrace and a total disrespect of human intelligence.
Venezuela entering through the back door is a nice twist of the situation, it just turned into a win-win for Mercosur...
But it's right... It's the best for everybody. Paraguay can leave the leftist clique and Mercosur continues to dig it's own grave, if it's their own will.
Mercosur has become a joke... initially founded as an economic free zone between it's members, they are more protectionist and bitch against each other . Totally laughable fail...
Where do you get the idea that an impeachment prodedure is a trial?
The form of impeachment is spelled out in the Paraguayan Constitution, nowhere does it speak of the right to defense, this is because it is an administrative procedure not a penal one. The object of an impeachment is the same as a vote of “no confidence” where the representatives of the people remove the person in whom they've lost confidence so that that person can do no more damage. If the person involved has broken the law he/she will be tried by the judiciary, if not he/she will not be able to put themselves up for an elective post in the future.
Following the dictates of the Constitution is called DEMOCRACY, Argentina and the other South American countries involved in UNASUR and Mercosur should understand this.
The best thing for Paraguay, and incidentally Uruguay, is to leave Mercosur as quickly as possible and join up with the Pacific Alliance, or create an Atlantic Alliance, and leave Bolivarianosur to strangle on its own ineptitude.
By no means this has to be set equal to a penal judgment. Of course CFK is trying to make this up, because she's terribly afraid, that this could happen to her and she would have to take responsability for her disastrous government.
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