MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Paraguayan controversial leader arrested for causing havoc

Payo Cubas insisted his supporters should be ready to go to jail or die for their country

Paraguay's National Police Friday arrested former Senator Paraguayo “Payo” Cubas, the National Crusade Party's (PCN) presidential candidate, who finished third in last Sunday's elections with nearly 23% of the votes, for sparking demonstrations nationwide denouncing electoral fraud.

Cubas' detention took place in the middle of a speech he was delivering in San Lorenzo, about 14 kilometers from Asunción, in compliance with an official request from the Public Prosecutor's Office. The rightwing leader broadcast his arrest live through social networks. He was smiling and joking with the officers that he should be handcuffed. “All criminals in this country have to be handcuffed like Paraguayo Cubas,” said the leader while he was being taken to a van.

Once in the van, Cubas continued transmitting with his cell phone. Handcuffed, he insisted that “this is how [former president Horacio] Cartes should be, this is how [President-elect] Santi [Peña] should be,” said Cubas.

Cubas had announced days ago that he would arrive from Ciudad del Este in the capital to demonstrate in front of the Superior Tribunal of Electoral Justice (TSJE). But he made a few stops on his way. On Sunday and Monday nights, Cubas' followers blocked several roads, attacked ambulances, and clashed with the National Police as part of a series of protests denouncing electoral fraud.

A former senator, he has been gaining popularity in recent years through his peculiar manners, which included defecating in a courtroom after hitting a judge with a belt. His photo, when the police took him with his pants down, was notorious. He was also arrested for painting graffiti on the house of former Attorney General Javier Diaz Veron. In addition, he hit policemen, threw water on his fellow Senators Juan Carlos Galaverna and Fernando Lugo, and exchanged fist punches with Enrique Riera in the Senate.

This week he recorded a video in which he referred to his followers who had been arrested and demanded legal assistance “little girls.” Payo Cubas insisted they should be ready to go to jail and to die for their country.