Paraguay minister's loan meeting to be 'cordial,' lawmaker says

The leader of the Honor Colorado bloc in Paraguay's Chamber of Deputies, Miguel Del Puerto, confirmed that a meeting with the Minister of Public Works and Communications, Claudia Centurión, scheduled for August 10, will be "cordial." The purpose is to de-escalate tensions and pave the way for the approval of a $75 million loan designated for rural road construction.

This loan has become a focal point of unexpected confrontation among ruling party members. Some legislators, like Alejandro Aguilera, have criticized the minister for an allegedly inequitable distribution of funds, particularly noting that 50% of the loan is allocated to roads in Caaguazú. Another legislator, Hugo Meza, even suggested the minister needed to be "reminded" to respect the Chamber of Deputies.

Del Puerto, who represents Caaguazú, stated his support for the loan, emphasizing its benefits for his department and others. He suggested that Senator Silvio "Beto" Ovelar, also from Caaguazú and a member of the ruling party, is pursuing political advantage through his public stance. Del Puerto advised Ovelar to "maintain a little calm" and support the upcoming vote.

The minister's upcoming meeting is intended to address concerns from legislators whose departments were not included in the initial project proposals, ensuring that long-standing infrastructure requests are also considered.