Ruling party wins election in Paraguay, but with surprise performance of the opposition

Monday, April 23rd 2018 - 09:52 UTC

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Paraguay's Mario Abdo Benitez, “Marito”, who represents the country's long-dominant Colorado Party, was elected as president on Sunday, landing the top job in the country with the smallest economy in Mercosur. The US-educated son of a senior aide to the country's late dictator, Abdo Benitez won slightly more than 46% of the vote, with his centrist opponent Efrain Alegre taking almost 43% in a race that was far closer than expected. Read full article

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Pytangua
Wrong - the turnout was only 61%, a considerable drop from 68% in 2013, due to growing apathy among a population that is fed up with the corruption of the political class and the judiciary.
Apr 23rd, 2018 - 01:25 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
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vfranco
Actually Horacio Cartes was the winner. Some of his corrupted senators and congressmans will be in government too. Some government liberals and others political parties unfortunately were on his favor to make this happen. I doubt that the front (face) Marito will be able to do anything before consulting with Horacio Cartes ... so ... nothing will change in this country.
Apr 23rd, 2018 - 03:32 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
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Enrique Massot
It takes time to shake out three and a half decades of dictatorship, but it'll eventually happen in Paraguay as it has in other countries having suffered a similar fate.
Apr 23rd, 2018 - 05:56 pm - Link - Report abuse -1
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DemonTree
Decades? Two centuries of turmoil and dictatorship is more like it. How many presidents of Paraguay have ever been fairly elected to the position AND served out their mandate?

@vfranco
Didn't Cartes try to change the constitution so he could stand again? I guess he didn't succeed.
Apr 23rd, 2018 - 08:28 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
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