Bachi’s political stronghold: Political maneuvering accelerates in Nueva Asunción and Nanawa ahead of elections

Paraguay’s Chamber of Deputies has suddenly placed on its agenda a bill that would transfer state land in three municipalities to local governments, less than a month before municipal elections.

The proposal is scheduled for debate on Tuesday, Sept. 8. It would require the National Institute of Rural Development and Land, known as INDERT, to register and transfer its properties in Nueva Asunción and Nanawa in Presidente Hayes, and Itá in Central, within 60 days of the law’s possible enactment.

The bill was submitted by Colorado Party lawmaker Esteban Samaniego and Liberal lawmaker Enrique Antonio Buzarquis, vice president of the Authentic Radical Liberal Party. Its stated aim is to address difficulties in subdividing public land held by INDERT. The agency’s purpose is to distribute property for agrarian reform, but many plots in the municipalities are smaller than one hectare. The sponsors argue that municipalities should take over the titling process and later transfer the properties to occupants.

ABC Color presents the timing as particularly significant because municipal elections are set for Oct. 4. In Nueva Asunción, Colorado politician Miguel “Juancho” Vera, who belongs to Basilio Núñez’s political team, is seeking re-election. Carlos García, another Núñez ally, is seeking the mayor’s office in Nanawa. In Itá, Liberal José Luis Dimartino, from Buzarquis’s team, is seeking re-election.

Article 4 would declare the transfers to be in the public and social interest and authorize INDERT to give the municipalities all rural and urban properties in its portfolio free of charge. The bill says transfers must occur within two months of promulgation, including to possible occupants. Existing contractual conditions, such as prices, payments already made and deadlines, would have to be respected.