MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Paraguay does not accept Venezuela as the next chair of Mercosur

Fernandez Estigarribia said that Paraguay’s democracy is 'far better than some in other latitudes'

Paraguay, suspended from Mercosur and Unasur since last June rejected point-blank the possibility that Venezuela takes the chair of the regional trade group as of next June during the summit scheduled to take place in Uruguay.

“Our position continues the same. Paraguay should have held the presidency of the group, but since then Mercosur is involved in an illegal act violating the group’s charter”, said Foreign Minister Jose Felix Fernandez Estigarribia in Asunción.

Venezuela’s acting president Nicolas Maduro, who faces a general election next 14 April, recently announced that his country next June would be taking over the six-month presidency of Mercosur to which his country adhered as a full member last 7 December without the support from suspended Paraguay.

The Paraguayan government of President Federico Franco which has been suspended from Mercosur and Unasur following the removal from office of Fernando Lugo after an impeachment in the Senate last 22 June argues that Venezuela’s incorporation is null since it was implemented without the support of the Paraguayan legislative. Mercosur other members consider the removal of Lugo a ‘congressional coup’ and thus the suspension.

Paraguay is one of the founding members of Mercosur, and according to the charter any new full member incorporation must have the unanimous support of all members. Taking advantage of the fact that Paraguay had been suspended, the other three members voted the full incorporation of Venezuela. Former president Hugo Chavez had made the official request in 2006 but first the Brazilian Senate and later the Paraguayan higher house rejected such request.

“Venezuela to our criteria still has not been legally incorporated to Mercosur, since it is violating the original treaties which refer to the constitutions of the group”, insisted Foreign minister Fernandez Estigarribia.

“Sooner than later they will have to recognize that Paraguay is a full democracy, with all rights and guarantees and far better than some in other latitudes”, added the minister who denied that the administration of President Franco was isolated internationally.

“Those statements neither do nor reflect reality; the OAS has recognized the Franco administration and I’m just back from an invitation to Germany and the UK, which support us” said the minister.

Mercosur and Unasur suspended Paraguay from the groups until the coming 11 April election and there is some discussion as to whether it should not be implemented when the new government tales office on 15 August.