MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Landslide victory for ruling party in Paraguay

Paraguay's ruling Partido Colorado won a landslide 75% of the country's 234 municipalities in Sunday's elections which also marked a record abstention of 40%, according to local electoral authorities.

The ruling party managed to keep control of the country's three main cities, the capital Asunción, Ciudad del Este and Encarnación plus another 150 municipalities.

Partido Colorado chairman Alberto Alderete said that "our party has control over 75% of town halls in the country which means a 5% advance over the previous situation".

The big news is that for the first time in Paraguay's history the capital Asunción will have a woman mayor, journalist Evanhy de Gallegos who garnered 45% of the vote against independent Miguel Carrizosa 35% and Liberal Jorge Leoz, 16%.

Opposition parties were unable to blend an alliance to face the Partido Colorado which has ruled Paraguay for the last sixty years.

Paraguayan president Nicanor Duarte described the results as "a gigantic defeat for the opposition; we've left them numb".

However the victory could have paved the way for President Duarte's re-election bid, which the Senate under opposition control, "has promised to stop by all legitimate means".

Pedro Fadul chairman of the party that sponsored Carrizosa in Asunción complained the incumbent victory was evidence of "the perverse power of the Executive and money from the government infrastructure".

Blas Llano chairman of the Liberals said the government "has shown no restraint or shame in blatantly using government resources for its political targets".

Next July/August presidential primaries are scheduled in anticipation of April 2008 national elections when President, Senate, Lower House and regional governors will be disputed.

If president Duarte's re-election bid fails it is believed the ruling party candidate could be vice president Luis Castiglioni or Education Minister Blanca Duarte.

The opposition that has long been planning on a concerted effort and candidate, and apparently has finally agreed on launching Bishop Fernando Lugo who has promised to give up his religious vows before next Christmas.

Landlocked Paraguay is Mercosur's poorest member and has a history of political instability with sustained periods of dictatorships.

Paraguay is also next to Argentine province Misiones where a government sponsored project for "indefinite" re-election of the local governor was rejected by a coalition of civic groups led by a Catholic bishop.