Paraguay’s president, Mario Abdo, has reached his first year in office with a 69% disapproval rating amid an enduring political crisis and a significant economic slowdown, according to a survey published on Wednesday.
Paraguay's Colorado Party Monday backed its support of President Mario Abdo in the aftermath of the political scandal sparked last week when the somber Itaipu electricity deal with Brazil was unearthed, leaving the government on the brink of impeachment, a threat which has been averted.... for now.
Paraguay's Vicepresident Hugo Velázquez said that so far only half truths regarding the somber deal with Brazil about the sale of electricity are known to the public. The affair has left the government of President Mario Abdo on the brink of collapse despite having dodged impeachment before the Senate this past week.
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro said he was open to reviewing the controversial recent energy agreement with Paraguay, which cost dignataries from the latter country their jobs and left President Mario Abdo Benitez on the brink of impeachment.
Paraguay's foreign minister and three other officials resigned on Monday amid a growing scandal over the signing of an energy deal with Brazil, a blow to President Mario Abdo who has forged close ties with Brazil, Latin America's No. 1 economy.
The political and economic crisis in Venezuela was the center of the political debate among the heads of state that, this Wednesday, met in Santa Fe, Argentina in the Mercosur semi-annual summit, a block from which the Caribbean country is currently suspended. Neither Uruguay, Bolivia nor Chile addressed a word regarding the Venezuelan situation.
The presidents of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay are expected to announce Wednesday the elimination of the roaming service charge when travelling to any of the Mercosur countries, it was reported.
Bolivia's Foreign Trade Vice Minister Benjamín Blanco downplayed any risk that Brazil might opt out of the Bioceanic Railway Integration Corridor (CFBI) after the Brazilian ambassador said on Friday it was not a priority, amid fears that given the political differences between the two countries, the Bolsonaro administration might prefer a similar project with Argentina and Chile.
Argentina’s energy secretary says improper reprogramming of the electricity system following the installation of a bypass on a major transmission line caused the power outage that left tens of millions of people in three nations without power.
Fisheries exports from Mercosur member countries which now face tariffs ranging from 8% to 15% in the European Union will see them gradually disappear during a seven-year period, according to the terms of the wide-ranging strategic trade and cooperation agreement signed this week between the two blocks.