Asunción Municipality is 'broken' but city has funds, says mayoral candidate

Asunción's mayoral candidate Soledad Núñez has declared the city's municipality is in a severe financial crisis, describing it as "broken" due to what she terms irresponsible decisions and the existence of "parallel cash boxes." Núñez, a precandidate for the opposition alliance Juntos por Asunción, stated that while the municipal government faces collapse, the capital itself holds significant economic potential for recovery. "The municipality is broken. The good news is that in Asunción there is money," she asserted, pointing to a need for financial restructuring and a crackdown on corruption. She detailed that an administration under her leadership would focus on two key areas: a financial overhaul to address significant debt and the dismantling of "parallel cash boxes." Núñez alleges that substantial municipal resources are not entering official accounts but are instead being diverted into private pockets, with some public funds allegedly used for political campaigns. "We have to cut the parallel cash boxes. This municipality operates under the logic of parallel cash boxes," she stated, emphasizing the need for clear leadership, control, and monitoring. Núñez also outlined her commitment to combating corruption, reforming the municipal traffic police (PMT), and revitalizing the city's urban infrastructure. She defended the opposition alliance's formation as a necessary tool to confront the capital's "abandonment" and "chaotic, catastrophic" situation, arguing that current electoral rules favor such consolidated efforts.