Miguel Prieto Claims 'Cartismo' Persecutes Him for Refusing to Squander Public Funds

Presidential aspirant Miguel Prieto has publicly accused the ruling "cartismo" faction of orchestrating his persecution due to his stance against corruption and mismanagement of public funds. Speaking at the inauguration of the "Rodrigo Quintana" plaza in Ciudad del Este, Prieto asserted that his administration demonstrated that significant municipal projects could be completed without resorting to embezzlement or inflated contracts.

Prieto specifically pointed to the controversial $27 million deal for Chinese-made school desks, which he claims was grossly overpriced. He argues that this alleged overpayment diverted funds that could have been used for essential infrastructure, such as rebuilding the Lago de la República and constructing additional public spaces. "They never forgave me for denouncing that Itaipú overcharged $27 million for Chinese desks," Prieto stated, emphasizing the political repercussions he faced after exposing the alleged corruption.

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Que no se olviden nunca que me echaron por haber denunciado que Itaipú sobrefacturó 27 millones de dólares en pupitres chinos. Nunca me perdonaron. Con esos 27 millones de dólares que han sobrefacturado los pupitres chinos nosotros, con los concejales, ya íbamos a reconstruir todo el Lago de la República y aún así iba a sobrar para otras cinco plazas

The inauguration of the "Rodrigo Quintana" plaza, named in honor of a slain liberal leader, served as a platform for Prieto to showcase his vision for governance. He highlighted the five parks completed during his tenure as mayor, presenting them as evidence of his commitment to efficient and transparent public service. Prieto aims to project this model of governance nationwide as he vies for the presidency in 2028, positioning himself as an alternative to the entrenched political establishment.

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Es la representación de que todo lo que soñamos y proyectamos, podemos llevar adelante, por eso nos persiguen (el gobierno cartista). Porque con el presupuesto gigante del Estado y de Itaipú prefieren sobrefacturar en pupitres chinos en 27 millones de dólares