MEC Officials Report Political Pressure to Support Candidate Medina

Officials within Paraguay's Ministry of Education and Science (MEC) are reporting alleged political pressure to support the candidacy of Romina Medina, who is running for city council in Asunción. Aníbal Zapattini, the chief of staff and reportedly a close associate of Minister Luis Ramírez, is accused of threatening ministry employees if they do not back his wife's campaign.

The alleged coercion is occurring as Paraguay prepares for internal elections on June 7, which will determine candidates for the municipal elections in October. According to numerous reports from MEC employees, Zapattini, through intermediaries, is pressuring staff to vote for Medina, a candidate representing the 'cartismo' faction within the Colorado Party. These threats reportedly involve job security and departmental directives.

One incident cited involved Rossana Estrella Ortiz, the director general of Cooperation at MEC, hosting a political rally at her home for Medina. Attendees reportedly included directors, chiefs, and staff members without specific roles, allegedly under duress from Zapattini. The article details the salaries and bonuses of some officials involved, including Rossana Ortiz and her sister Natalia Ortiz, who recently received a directorial position. The alleged pressure extends to forcing employees to attend various political events organized by Zapattini, even during work hours.

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The threat is made, for example, through the head or director of a department, who, on orders from the chief of staff, practically forces the employees of the dependency to join every political event this gentleman organizes.