Paraguay Deputies Face Quorum Challenge Amid Packed Agenda

The Chamber of Deputies convenes today with a significant agenda, yet the overriding concern is whether the deputies will even show up to conduct business. For four consecutive sessions, a lack of quorum has prevented any meaningful discussion of the items presented. This recurring "rabonería"—a term capturing their tendency to shirk responsibility—has become the main focus, overshadowing the importance of the legislative matters at hand.

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the main challenge will be that they address at least the majority, since for four sessions they have been left without quorum without touching practically any point on the order of the day.

Among the critical points on the agenda are requests to intervene in the offices of seven mayors, both from the ruling party and the opposition. These cases, concerning alleged mismanagement, have been deliberately stalled since late last year. The trend suggests these interventions will likely be rejected, with the excuse that there isn't enough time before the upcoming municipal internal elections in July, even though the mayors' terms extend until November. This political maneuvering highlights a deep-seated issue within the legislative body.

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the main challenge will be that they address at least the majority, since for four sessions they have been left without quorum without touching practically any point on the order of the day.

Furthermore, the session is set to address a memorandum of understanding with the United States Department of Defense for the acquisition of defense articles and services. This agreement, a supplement to the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA), has received unanimous backing from relevant committees and the U.S. Embassy. While the legislative body grapples with its internal quorum issues, the passage of this significant defense pact hangs in the balance, underscoring the disconnect between pressing national security matters and the deputies' persistent absenteeism.

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the main challenge will be that they address at least the majority, since for four sessions they have been left without quorum without touching practically any point on the order of the day.