Comptroller Pact for Re-election Confirms Him as 'Loyal Dog of the Establishment,' Says Lawmaker

Paraguayan Comptroller Camilo Benítez has been accused of securing his own re-election by "whitewashing" President Santiago Peña's financial dealings. Opposition lawmaker Raúl Benítez stated that the Comptroller has confirmed himself as "just another loyal dog of the establishment." This comes as Benítez's term is set to expire in September, and he is eligible for one re-election.

Raúl Benítez, who is also a signatory to a criminal complaint against President Peña for alleged illicit enrichment, condemned what he called a "complicit whitewashing" by the Comptroller General's Office. He believes this action paves the way for Camilo Benítez's ratification in his post. The lawmaker asserted that the Comptroller likely negotiated his re-election with the ruling party, engaging in a "brazen whitewashing" of Peña's assets.

The opposition legislator further claimed that the alleged whitewashing of Peña's finances confirms that "control bodies in this Republic are occupied by the establishment and have ceased to function." He suggested that the next step would be for the State Prosecutor General, Emiliano Rolón, to finalize what he considers a clear "collusion." Raúl Benítez speculated that bribes and positions were exchanged, enabling the President to explain his wealth, which he described as originating from "envelopes for everyone" and "positions for everyone."