MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Paraguay president back in office amid growing concerns about his full capacities

Lugo leaving Sao Pablo hospital (Pic AFP)

Paraguayan President Fernando Lugo, who has cancer returned home to resume his duties on Wednesday after undergoing emergency treatment in a Brazilian hospital over the weekend. He has a full cabinet meeting planned for Thursday.

Lugo was rushed to the Sao Paulo hospital on Saturday with what doctors initially feared was a serious infection. Further tests revealed a blood clot, likely linked to his chemotherapy treatment.

“This president will continue to undergo a series of treatments to fully repair a somewhat delicate state of health, but I assure you that once we're through this period, we will redouble our efforts,” Lugo said after landing in Paraguay.

Lugo's return should help ease concerns about his health in the land-locked country, which has enjoyed a decade of political stability following a volatile period after the end of Alfredo Stroessner's several-decades long dictatorship in 1989.

Lugo who took office two years ago was diagnosed in August with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, a cancer that originates in the lymphatic system.

The former Catholic bishop’s presidency has been increasingly stalled as the catch-all coalition that took him to office has dismembered and he no longer has a majority in Congress seriously limiting the legislative agenda.

Since his health condition forced him to the chemotherapy treatment including several trips to the Sao Paulo clinic that is following the evolution of his case, there have been increasing demands from some political sectors for Lugo to move aside.

In his absence the post is covered by Vice-president Federico Franco who does not have a fluid relation with the president but so far has acted with royalty down playing rumours about a possible replacement of president Lugo.

“I’m in the line of succession; if needed I will take office as president. I’ve already acted as president for over 200 days and what I most want, wish is a quick recovery of President Lugo”, said Franco who insisted he has proven to be “reliable and trustworthy”.
“What’s most important for Paraguay and its democratic institutions is the full recovery of President Lugo”, underlined Franco.