Paraguay’s chances of a better deal from Brazil regarding the Itaipu Hydroelectric dam surplus power and its price are seen as “difficult” particularly because Brazil is approaching an electoral year, according to Asuncion press reports from journalists who accompanied President Fernando Lugo in his visit to Brasilia.
Brazil and Paraguay failed to come to an agreement on proposed renegotiation of accords related to the Itaipu hydroelectric facility and are scheduled to meet again in early June, according to Paraguay’s Executive spokesperson Ruben Penayo.
Brazilian president Lula da Silva and the ministerial cabinet will consider Wednesday a “fair and viable” solution to differences with Paraguay regarding the energy from the world’s largest operational hydroelectric dam, Itaipú, announced in Brasilia Foreign Affairs minister Celso Amorim.
Brazil could anticipate payments to Paraguay for the energy from the shared huge Itaipu dam, which should help the Treasury of the weakened President Fernando Lugo. However Brazil would also like to see an end to Paraguay’s intention of modifying the Itaipu dam accord, according to the Brazilian press quoting government sources.
Bolivia and Paraguay formally sealed Monday in Buenos Aires the end of an armed conflict dating back 74 years and which is considered the bloodiest of the last century in South America with over 100.000 killed.
A leading authority of the Catholic Church has suggested that Paraguayan President and former bishop, Fernando Lugo should marry one of the women who claim to have had children with him so as to mitigate the scandal triggered in the country with the repeated allegations.
A third woman in two weeks has claimed that Paraguay's President Fernando Lugo fathered her child, intensifying a political scandal that has made him the target of acid jokes, graffiti and a pop song. However in this last case the 39 year old teacher said she was “deeply in love” with the former bishop.
Health authorities in Paraguay acknowledged this week the existence of an outbreak of cholera in an isolated Indian settlement in the western region of Chaco. Paraguay, as well as neighbouring Bolivia, Brazil and Argentina are also suffering a serious outbreak of the mosquito transmitted dengue
A Paraguayan leading opposition senator filed a “ravish claim” before the country’s Prosecution Office involving President Fernando Lugo and Viviana Carrillo who was a minor when allegedly she had sexual relations with the then bishop of San Pedro. Lugo publicly admitted last week having fathered a child, now two year old and named Fernando, with Viviana.
The Mercosur Parliament is scheduled to meet next week in Asunción, Paraguay, in an attempt to awaken public opinion interest in the legislative body. Members from Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and eventually Venezuela (in the process of incorporation) will meet at the Paraguayan Congress building.