MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Lugo going to appeal before the Inter American Court his removal from office

The two patients recovering from cancer met in Sao Paulo

Fernando Lugo said he would appeal to the Inter American Court the whole political impeachment process in the Senate that ended with his removal from the Paraguayan presidency in less than 48 hours and with little chance of a defence.

“We’re exhausting the possible demands before the Electoral court in Paraguay: we have presented two unconstitutional claims against the impeachment process that led to this summary trial and removal”, said former president Lugo from Brazil where the travelled to have a medical check up and meet with former leader Lula da Silva.

Lugo said that the judges rejected his first appeal and “most probably will do the same with the second appeal, so after that we’re going to the Inter American Court”.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, the latest incorporation to Mercosur has described the Inter American Court and Human rights court, as “rotten, degenerate, awful and not worthy of the new world” and anticipated Venezuela will abandon both courts that function in the framework of the Organization of American States.

The former president said the medical examination in a famous hospital from the city of Sao Paulo showed he was “free and clear” of cancer.

He later revealed that during talks with Lula da Silva, who was also in for a throat cancer check up, the two “underlined how important regional solidarity was to defend democracy and democratic institutions”.

Lula da Silva said that Venezuela’ incorporation to Mercosur “is most important because they are going to be a great contribution. It would have been silly to keep Venezuela out with all the energy resources they have”.

Lugo said that looking back on the events that had him ousted from office “it is a warning for the rest of the continent since it means “coups” in the region are very lively and ready to act”.

“After what happened in Paraguay everybody must be alert. I recall that when the coup in Honduras (2009) everybody was saying that Paraguay was the next in the line. And so it was: right wing interests in the world have no limits”, underlined Lugo.

Speaking to the Brazilian media Lugo said “I don’t know which country will be next; probably where the multinationals want access to Latinamerican national resources; we need to be alert and also with the ideological issue because other countries clearly targeted include the members of ALBA, the Bolivarian Alliance”, brainchild of President Chavez.

The former president said he was optimistic about the future in Paraguay and the coming April 2013 elections, in which he is banned from running, but will give his vote and support to the catch-all coalition Guacú. A similar coalition took Lugo to office in 2008 but rapidly disintegrated and left the former bishop with very scarce legislative support and exposed to the impeachment which finally removed him.

“The right wing has economic resources but the left, if it acts with intelligence could have votes…there is hope”. Furthermore “never before has the progressive left wing parties in Paraguay had a better chance: they make critical assessments of their historic evolution, and are managing to administer consensuses, in spite of all, which is very encouraging”.