MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Ecuador regrets Paraguay did not invite President Maduro to Cartes inauguration

Patiño did not advance if Ecuador would send a representative to Asuncion on Thursday

Ecuador regrets that Paraguay has not invited Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro (who is also currently president of Mercosur) to the inauguration of president Horacio Cartes next Thursday, 15 August, said Ecuadorean foreign minister Ricardo Patiño,

“Ecuador regrets that the government of Paraguay has not invited President Nicolas Maduro to the taking office ceremony of Horacio Cartes” Patiño twitted on Monday, without making further comments.

Presidents from Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Peru and Taiwan plus the heir to the Spanish throne, Felipe, Prince of Asturias have confirmed their attendance to the ceremony next Thursday in Asunción.

Ecuador has yet to name who will be representing the country at Cartes inauguration.

Following the death of Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez, Ecuador’s Rafael Correa has emerged as the natural leader of the Bolivarian Alliance of the Americas, the anti-US and anti-open markets organization created by the former Venezuelan leader.

Cartes, 57, a rich businessman linked to tobacco and football was elected president last April with 46% of the vote in representation of the opposition Colorado party. He was elected ten months after the removal of Fernando Lugo from office and this replacement by Federico Franco, who until then was Vice-president.

Following the removal Mercosur suspended Paraguay calling it a congressional ‘coup’ but at the same time incorporated Venezuela as full member. This doubly infuriated Paraguay: one because the removal of Lugo was done according to impeachment procedure and an overwhelming vote, and secondly because Venezuela’s incorporation was decided despite the Paraguayan Senate objection.

Last but not least Maduro in June 2012, then as Foreign minister was caught in video calling of the Paraguayan armed forces command to send troops out to the streets in support of former president Fernando Lugo. He was declared ‘persona non grata’ by the Paraguayan Senate.