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Paraguay's 1992 Constitution: 34 Years Later, Constituents Assess Its Validity
🇵🇾 Paraguay /Culture & Society

Paraguay's 1992 Constitution: 34 Years Later, Constituents Assess Its Validity

From ABC Color · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Paraguay's 1992 Constitution is 34 years old, prompting evaluation of its effectiveness and fulfillment of expectations.
  • Former constituents recall initial tensions with state powers over certain articles following its promulgation after the Stroessner dictatorship.
  • They emphasize that governance failures since 1992 stem from rulers' inefficiency, not constitutional flaws, and citizens must defend its compliance.

Thirty-four years after Paraguay's National Constitution was sworn in, former constituents are evaluating its impact and whether it has met expectations. On June 20, 1992, the Constitution was promulgated after six months of work by 198 delegates. The atmosphere was one of both great satisfaction and "tense anticipation" because the executive, legislative, and judicial powers were displeased with certain articles.

The country had recently emerged from 34 years of Alfredo Stroessner's dictatorship. Eusebio Ramón Ayala, a former liberal senator and constituent, stated that "The Constitution does not prevent governing well. The Constitution establishes rules and principles for good governance. If there hasn't been good governance, it's not due to the Constitution's flaws but to the inefficiency, ineffectiveness, or sectarian interests of the rulers in power."

The Constitution does not prevent governing well. The Constitution establishes rules and principles for good governance. And if there is no good government, or there hasn't been in the past, from '92 onwards, it is not precisely due to the failure of the Constitution. It is due to the inefficiency, ineffectiveness, or sectarian interests of the rulers in power.

— Eusebio Ramón AyalaAyala, a former constituent, explains that governance issues are not the fault of the Constitution but of the leaders.

Ayala recalled that the leaders of the three state powers – President Andrés Rodríguez, Congress President Gustavo Díaz de Vivar, and Supreme Court President José Alberto Correa – did not attend the official swearing-in ceremony on June 20, 1992. Only one Supreme Court minister, Dr. Jerónimo Irala Burgos, was present. Despite this initial tension, Rodríguez eventually swore allegiance to the new Magna Carta, and the 1967 Constitution was repealed. Ayala affirmed that expectations have been met.

He described the early 1990s as a "time of freedom" following the fall of the stronista dictatorship in 1989, providing a necessary environment for the constituent assembly's work. The delegates felt a profound satisfaction with their accomplishment, even amidst the initial resistance from established powers. The core message from the former constituents is that the Constitution itself remains a sound framework, and any shortcomings in governance are attributable to the actions of those in power.

there was a 'tense anticipation' because the state powers were annoyed by certain articles.

— ConstituentRecalling the atmosphere surrounding the Constitution's promulgation after the end of the dictatorship.
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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