MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Paraguayan Senator admits talks to support Venezuela’s Mercosur incorporation

Senator Martin Chiola, the issue is not ‘non negotiable’

In spite of a specific mandate to vote against the incorporation of Venezuela to Mercosur, the Colorado party which is the single strongest force in the Paraguayan senate could reconsider the situation according to Martin Chiola, first Vice-president of the Upper House.

“As leader of the Colorado benches I have been receiving constant suggestions and requests from Executive envoys for the approval of Venezuela as full member of Mercosur. So far the Senate has not addressed the issue because the Executive withdrew the bill and had not presented it again”, said the influential Senator Chiola.

“We have a party mandate not to vote on the incorporation of President Chavez’ Venezuela, so we must abide by it. However this stands until party authorities don’t change position”, who added that the issue can’t be considered “non negotiable”.
“The position could be reviewed any moment”

Even when under the Paraguayan constitution lawmakers are not subject to imperative mandates, “we Colorados have always respected our decision bodies, and in this case it was decided by the top hierarchy”

One of the possibilities, besides reviewing the formal position of the party is to “free” members to vote their conscience “if a political agreement is reached with the Executive”.

The possibility of such a political agreement is “in the pipeline” admitted Senator Chiola since the Executive is prepared to negotiate a whole package of issues.

Last year President Fernando Lugo sent the bill to Congress but withdrew it when he was informed there were an insufficient number of votes.

“This time apparently the Executive will first reach an agreement with each of the opposition groups before re-addressing the issue, so it can be sure of its approval. I would guess sometime in the coming weeks we could have an understanding”, said Senator Chiola.

A majority of Paraguayan senators do not approve of Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez ‘democratic’ system and have criticized the jailing of members of the opposition and the intimidation and closure of media not aligned with the regime.