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Paraguay Deputies Boycott Session Over Blocked Information Requests
🇵🇾 Paraguay /Elections & Politics

Paraguay Deputies Boycott Session Over Blocked Information Requests

From ABC Color · (13m ago) Spanish Critical tone

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Opposition and dissident Colorado lawmakers in Paraguay's Chamber of Deputies boycotted a session, leaving it without a quorum to protest the blocking of their information requests.
  • Lawmakers cited the ruling party's alleged

The ruling party's iron fist in the Chamber of Deputies has stifled the opposition's ability to seek information, leading to a necessary boycott of the latest session. For too long, the "cartistas" have used their majority to bury requests that could expose government mismanagement and corruption, effectively censoring legitimate oversight.

Se pidió un poquito más de gentileza, digamos, con el pleno. Nosotros habíamos pactado al comienzo de este periodo que los pedidos de informes iban a ser libres, pero eso ya fue cambiando, ya nos rechazaron varios a toda la oposición, y bueno, va a depender del oficialismo

— Rubén RubinDeputy Rubén Rubin explains the opposition's stance after a meeting of the board of directors.

Our colleagues in the opposition have been patient, but the continued obstruction of information requests, which were supposed to be freely debated at the start of this term, has forced their hand. It is unacceptable that the ruling party, despite needing opposition support for a quorum, continues to block any inquiry that might make them uncomfortable.

While the ruling party claims to prioritize national interests, their actions suggest otherwise. They seem more interested in rubber-stamping budget expansions that benefit their party structure than in addressing critical issues like the deficit in medicines or school supplies. This is not governance; it's self-preservation at the expense of the public good.

Nosotros le decimos nomás que si se van a hacer los gallitos, por lo menos pídanle a su bancada entera que se siente, porque es una locura que nos rechacen todo y después nosotros tengamos que darles quórum otra vez

— Rubén RubinDeputy Rubén Rubin criticizes the ruling party's tactics.

We call on the ruling party to show some "gentileza" as Deputy Rubén Rubín put it, and allow for open debate and information sharing. If they wish for the opposition to participate, they must bring substantive matters to the floor, not just self-serving proposals. The people deserve transparency, and we will continue to fight for it, even if it means disrupting the status quo.

Si vamos a aprobar el Presupuesto General de la Nación, si vamos a aprobar eliminar el déficit de medicamentos, si vamos a aprobar eliminar el déficit de pupitres, yo creo que los 80 van a estar sentados, pero casi siempre es ampliación presupuestaria para los muchachos, para mantener la estructura partidaria

— Rubén RubinDeputy Rubén Rubin contrasts national priorities with the ruling party's alleged agenda.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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