
Paraguay's Agriculture and Livestock Minister Santiago Bertoni Monday held a bilateral meeting with US authorities Monday to discuss the agricultural agenda between the two countries, especially Paraguayan beef imports, it was reported.

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.

Santiago Peña of the ruling National Republican Association (ANR), also known as the Colorado Party, won Sunday's elections in Paraguay and will become the South American country's new president on Aug. 15, it was reported in Asunción. Turnout stood at 63.11% despite voting being mandatory.

Since 7 am local time Sunday (GMT -4), around 4.78 million Paraguayans started voting for the new President, who will take over from Mario Abdo Benítez on Aug. 15, it was reported in Asunción. As per Paraguayan law, there is no runoff, so whoever gets the most votes Sunday, even by the slightest of differences, will be declared the winner.

Spanish European Union (EU) MP Gabriel Mato, who heads the bloc's Electoral Mission in Paraguay, Tuesday met with President Mario Abdo Benítez to finalize the details of the April 30 polls whereby the latter's successor will be chosen.

Based on data from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), a recent report from SAFRAS & Mercado indicates that the participation of Mercosur members Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay in global beef exports is expected to decrease in 2023 compared to the previous year.

Paraguayan health authorities last week confirmed at least 90 deaths this year had been caused by chikungunya fever, while Uruguay detected its first imported case of the malady. One more case was also confirmed in the last days of 2022, according to the latest report from Paraguay's Health Ministry released on Friday.

Less than three weeks before the April 30 presidential elections in Paraguay, the ruling National Republican Association (ANR), also known as the Colorado Party, continues to face serious financing problems stemming from Party Chairman Horacio Cartes having been declared significantly corrupt by the United States, which renders him non-eligible for many banks to sign loan agreements.

A statement from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) released in Asunción on Wednesday highlighted Paraguay's macroeconomic performance and underlined that the South American country met the goals set for the end of 2022, after implementing a two-year technical support program from the global agency.

The extradition of former Paraguayan President Horacio Cartes and other politicians in the South American country who have been declared as “significantly corrupt” may come after the April 30 elections, according to an article carried in the latest issue of Americas Quarterly magazine.