Areguá mayor's leadership weakened after primary defeat linked to convicted figure

The leadership of Areguá's mayor, Denis Torres, has been significantly weakened following the electoral defeat of his political protégé, councilman Pablo Ayala, in the Colorado Party primaries. Ayala's candidacy was directly backed by Torres and was also associated with former senator Erico Galeano, who has been convicted for his ties to drug trafficking.

Torres's political standing had already been declining due to Galeano's imprisonment and what sources describe as his "terrible management" of the municipality. The primary election results, where councilman Julio Trinidad, supported by Minister of Social Development Tadeo Rojas, emerged victorious, further diminished Torres's influence within the party in Areguá.

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Stronger and more united than ever.

Sources indicate that Torres initially felt confident due to Galeano's support but ultimately lost ground to Minister Rojas's consolidated leadership. The conviction and subsequent imprisonment of Galeano severely weakened the faction led by Torres within the Colorado Party in Areguá, a weakness that was evident in the election results on June 7.

Following the electoral setback, Mayor Torres convened a meeting with his loyal supporters, posting a brief message on social media: "Stronger and more united than ever." The accompanying photo featured Torres alongside the defeated candidate Pablo Ayala and other loyal council members and candidates. However, the political weakening of Torres was also apparent during a civic-student parade, where only a small group of his closest associates attended, while other local authorities were notably absent. The defeated candidate, Ayala, issued a statement thanking his voters but notably did not congratulate the winner, Julio Trinidad, nor offer to collaborate.

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In democracy, you win and you lose, but you always have to get up and keep going forward, always with your head held high, with a clear conscience and mental and spiritual peace from having given our all for the citizens. Only time and the people will know and confirm that.