Luque: Chilavert Denounces Electoral Fraud in Opposition Poll

José Luis Chilavert, a candidate for mayor of Luque, has accused the opposition of electoral fraud following a poll held to determine a unified candidate. The survey aimed to select a single opposition contender to avoid splitting votes against the ruling ANR party's candidate, "Hugui" Farías.

Chilavert, running under Lista 5, alleged that voters expressed a clear intention to vote for him, but their choices were recorded for Manolo Achucarro of PLRA Lista 2 in the digital forms. "This situation is extremely concerning and deserves a clear technical explanation and an independent review to guarantee the transparency of the process," stated the former national team captain on social media.

Luque, Paraguay's third most populous city, is a key electoral battleground. Municipal elections are scheduled for October 4, with candidates having until August 7 to withdraw. Luque has been under ANR control since 2015. Chilavert, who previously ran for president in 2023, is seeking to unify the opposition against the established political forces.

He clarified that his complaint does not aim to invalidate the citizens' will or create divisions. Instead, he requests that his observations be clarified through a "serious, objective, and independent audit that allows the truth to be known and provides guarantees to all actors who participated in this process." The candidates had previously agreed to support the winner of the poll.