Friday, July 13th 2012 - 23:34 UTC

Paraguayan presidential hopeful said the country should in no way abandon Mercosur

Horacio Cartes a presidential hopeful from the Paraguayan hegemonic Partido Colorado said that exiting Mercosur would only cause the closure of industries and the loss of thousands of jobs in the country.

Horacio Cartes is one of the main candidates for next year’s presidential election

“Paraguay in no way should abandon Mercosur…we have to hold on tight while they bash us a little bit and keep low and don’t play to being giants or annoyed”, said the presidential hopeful during a political rally with a youth movement.

Cartes, a rich rancher and businessman said that Paraguayan authorities should “avoid acting with arrogance” since many of the country’s companies depend from Mercosur tariff benefits and the big neighbouring markets.

“Mercosur is a common market like is Europe and with our neighbours we also have many coincidences”, said the politician. He added that in a globalized world “all countries are interconnected and it is out of the questions trying to isolate Paraguay from other countries”.

“The OAS (Organization of American States) has already began to understand our politics, that we’re a sovereign country, all was done according to the book and the Constitution” said the presidential hopeful in direct reference to the recent removal following a political impeachment of former President Fernando Lugo.

Following Lugo’s removal Paraguay was suspended from Mercosur and Unasur, however an OAS fact-finding mission is not enthusiastic about such radical measures. The suspension is until next year’s presidential election in April.

Some Paraguayan manufacturing and farming lobbies have argued strongly for the country to definitively abandon Mercosur following on the suspension. Mercosur took advantage of the suspension and incorporated Venezuela as a full member with the request pending since 2006 and only blocked by the Paraguayan Senate.

The whole situation, the impeachment of Lugo, his removal, Mercosur immediate decision to suspend Paraguay and incorporate Venezuela has caused a major regional controversy.
 

 

Published in: Politics, Mercosur, Paraguay.
Tags: Federico Franco, Fernando Lugo, Horacio Cartes, Mercosur, OAS, Paraguay, Paraguayan coup, Patrido Colorado - Paraguay, Unasur, Venezuela.

7 comments Feed

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1 Chicureo (#) Jul 14th, 2012 - 02:05 am Report abuse
Athough I'd like them to leave the treaty, Cartes is probably correct and wise. The little country is landlocked and depends on good relations with Brazil and Argentina. Very pragmatic...
2 British_Kirchnerist (#) Jul 14th, 2012 - 08:48 am Report abuse
Well at least he seems not to be a fantasist like some on here who think Paraguay can ignore Brazil and Argentina and link up with the Pacific Alliance instead! However a “rich rancher” is not what Paraguay needs, and if he comes to power the old Colorado way, through force and fraud, he may not get to make the decision on being in mercosur anyway!
3 Britworker (#) Jul 14th, 2012 - 12:49 pm Report abuse
@1&2

I think it has F-all to with any other Country in South America what Paraguay wish to do. I despise the way Argentina and Brazil are allowed to bully their smaller neighbours into doing what they want them to do. It must be lovely to be a smaller member of Mercusur - do as we say or else we will impoverish you! Its disgusting. Communism is alive and well in South America and god only knows how bad Mercosur will get now Chavez is involved.
4 Conqueror (#) Jul 14th, 2012 - 02:00 pm Report abuse
Cartes is a bit of an unknown. However, he comes across as something of a Mercosur lackey. As the article points out, he's a rich rancher and businessman. Therefore, profit before people. And Paraguay will be stripped of most of its assets by argieland, Brazil and Venezuela. An important consideration will be the moves Chavez makes toward the position of “Emperor” or “Overlord”. He's 58 but, prima facie, dying. Chavez only has one son who, apparently, has behavioural problems and will thus be seen by his father as an ideal heir. By comparison with this, Paraguay is of no consequence. Only peasants.
5 British_Kirchnerist (#) Jul 14th, 2012 - 07:31 pm Report abuse
#4 Chavez has said the next President of Venezuela should be a woman =)
6 Forgetit87 (#) Jul 15th, 2012 - 03:46 am Report abuse
agenceglobal.com/index.php?show=article&Tid=2834
7 Conqueror (#) Jul 15th, 2012 - 01:10 pm Report abuse
@5 Open legs at the border?

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