MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Paraguay: former bishop leads in run up to presidential election

Lugo could win but won't have sufficient congressional support

Paraguayan former Catholic bishop Fernando Lugo supported by opposition and citizens groups disenchanted with the current political system leads with 36.8% in the race to April 20 presidential elections, according to the latest public opinion poll published by La Nación. This represents a two point win over the March poll.

Blanca Ovelar from the ruling National Republican Association (Partido Colorado which has dominated Paraguayan politics for the last six decades) is second with 26.4%, followed by Lino Oviedo of the National Union of Ethical Citizens (UNACE) with 24.3% and Pedro Fadul of the Beloved Homeland Party (PPQ) with 2.8%. Nicanor Duarte, who is not eligible for a new term, won the April 2003 presidential election as the ANR candidate with 37.1% of all cast ballots. In 1998 former General Oviedo was charged, convicted and sentenced for mutiny over an alleged coup against the government of Juan Carlos Wasmosy in April 1996. In October 2007, Paraguay's Supreme Court annulled Oviedo's conviction in a 6-3 decision, stating that his actions did not amount to mutiny, and effectively clearing him to take part in the presidential election. In September 2007, Lugo oversaw the creation of the APC, which brings together seven opposition parties and citizens groups. The same poll taken in November 2007 showed 44.5% of respondents supported Lugo, which was before the ruling ANR named its candidate Ms Olevar. But the Colorado ruling party in spite of all its government resources and experience in winning (rigging) elections, has run into difficulties because of a fierce primary earlier this year when the orthodox line of President Duarte and Ms Olevar just managed to defeated a renewal, more liberal line, thus splitting the party's unity. Last April 4, President Duarte said Ovelar would win the election "by more than 100,000 votes" and dismissed Lugo's APC, saying "it is a pathetic alliance for looting, it does not represent change and they are already fighting. If they fight right now for a microphone, how will they behave when they are the government?" Candidate Lugo has campaigned saying Paraguay has "to recover its dignity as a people and as a country; improve its image on a national and international level. Our country is known for corruption, for illegal activities, for contraband, for drug-trafficking. We have to work so that it is known for its honesty, its transparency, its heroism, its value for hard-work as it's been in history". Presidential candidates in Paraguay are not compelled to garner more than 50% of the vote in order to win the election. However since legislative elections are simultaneous Lugo might be deprived of a congressional majority. Landlocked Paraguay with a 6 million population is one of the poorest countries in South America in spite of great agriculture and energy resources.