Justice moves quickly when the targets are government opponents

Paraguay’s justice system is neither swift nor inexpensive in normal circumstances, this opinion article argues. But when politics enters the picture, it can accelerate sharply, harming those who have fallen out with the government of the day.

The article says impartiality gives way to treatment based on “the face of the client.” It points to what it calls strong indications that this is happening in cases involving former senior officials who do not belong to the Colorado Party, or to its Cartes-aligned sector. Using justice as a club against opponents, or as a lifeline for friends, it says, is a corruption of public life that citizens must not accept as normal.

The oral trial of Miguel Prieto began on Monday. Prosecutors accuse the former Ciudad del Este mayor of breach of trust over the purchase of food for residents that was allegedly not fully distributed, causing the municipality patrimonial damage of nearly 3 billion guaraníes. His defense has asked to call 56 witnesses, after Judge Humberto Otazú excluded them at the preliminary hearing.

The article contrasts Prieto’s case with that of former Ciudad del Este mayor Sandra McLeod de Zacarías, who it says was never prosecuted despite her scandal-ridden administration. Prieto has said he is targeting the presidency, leading the article to suggest that removing him from the race may be an objective, though it presents that as an inference rather than an established fact.

At the same time, it says an investigation opened a year ago into former Asunción mayor Óscar “Nenecho” Rodríguez remains unfinished. That case concerns the alleged diversion of 512 billion guaraníes. Presidential hopeful Arnoldo Wiens, a Colorado Party politician from the Abdo faction, is described as facing a similar experience over the costly and failed metrobus project. The article concludes that justice cannot effectively uphold the Constitution and laws while judges and prosecutors remain subject to the powerful figures of the moment.