“If you pay, you get the document in two days”: Bribe network denounced at Asunción Municipality

A serious denunciation of alleged corruption has been presented to the Municipal Council of Asunción, Paraguay, just days before internal party elections. Council members and private citizens have reported the existence of a "rosca" or network that intentionally delays the approval of essential administrative documents, including building plans and commercial licenses.

According to the complainants, the objective behind these delays is to solicit bribes. The alleged scheme is said to be orchestrated by a director who is also a candidate for councilman. This situation is reportedly causing significant harm to the municipality's genuine revenue streams. The formal complaint was filed by Bruno Martínez, a candidate for councilman and a local administrator, who claims to represent numerous architects and administrators facing similar issues but fearing retaliation.

Martínez specifically stated that some of his own applications have been stalled since January. He alleges that the delays are due to the authorizing official being on vacation, purportedly for campaign activities, and that no designated replacement with signing authority has been appointed by the mayor's office. This alleged "parallel collection" of funds is seen as a means to finance election campaigns.

Councilman Álvaro Grau has supported these accusations, describing the atmosphere within the municipality as "almost mafioso" and characterized by intimidation. He stated that the implicit message is a warning against speaking out. The allegations have cast a shadow over the upcoming internal elections, scheduled for June 7, and the general municipal elections set for October 4, highlighting concerns about transparency and ethical conduct within the city administration.