Asunción mayoral candidate vows to fire 5,000 employees, accuses rival of corruption

Rodrigo Franco, a candidate for mayor of Asunción representing the Christian Democratic Party (PDC), has pledged to dismiss 5,000 municipal employees if he wins the election. Franco made these statements while accusing opposition candidate Soledad Núñez and her allies of fabricating news to discredit him.

Franco specifically targeted PLRA councilman Augusto Wagner, accusing him of imposing Núñez's candidacy and using municipal employees for her campaign. Franco asserted that such tactics are unethical and that he himself has never been a "parasite of the state." He also addressed accusations of having relatives in various political parties, stating that his personal affiliations do not define his political goals.

Franco highlighted Tadeo Zarratea, his running mate for councilman and stepfather, as a key mentor. Zarratea, a former PLRA senator and respected labor judge, is presented as an incorruptible figure. Franco contrasted Zarratea with current liberal council members in Asunción, whom he described as "satellites and criminals" who have been complicit with various administrations for decades.

Further criticizing Wagner, who has served on the council for 25 years, Franco accused him of using "dirty money" to impose candidates and of orchestrating vote-switching in the 2021 elections to support the incumbent mayor, Nenecho. Franco also condemned Wagner's decision to nominate Christian Bareiro, the former director of Mercado 4, as a council candidate, labeling Bareiro as an extortionist who preyed on vulnerable vendors.

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No tenía ningún reparo en extorsionar a la gente humilde, a gente que trabaja de su día a día. Esa clase de sinvergüenza quiere hacerse ll