Paraguay's President must account to Congress: Experts explain the constitutional mandate

Every July 1st, Paraguay's President presents an annual management report to the National Congress, a constitutional act designed to ensure transparency and accountability. This process is a cornerstone of "horizontal accountability," a system where different branches of government monitor each other.

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The relevance, obviously, has a direct impact on what the obligation of accountability and political control of the Executive Power implies.

According to Alejandra Peralta, a lawyer specializing in human rights, the report is a mandatory mechanism for the executive branch to answer to the legislative branch. This aligns with the constitutional principle of separation of powers, preventing the executive from acting with unchecked authority. Peralta noted that Article 238, Section 8 of the National Constitution mandates this report, and the constitution itself outlines sanctions for non-compliance.

"The relevance, obviously, has a direct impact on what the obligation of accountability and political control of the Executive Power implies," Peralta stated. She added that the President, as head of state, does not wield power in isolation and must provide regular updates. The report is presented to Congress because its members are popularly elected representatives, making it an indirect way for the President to be accountable to the people.

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Then, let's say that indirectly what the president is doing is being accountable to the people.

While the report is broadcast publicly, allowing for indirect "vertical" citizen oversight, the opposition often criticizes it as a platform for painting an overly rosy picture of the country and making unfulfilled promises. Peralta stressed that the report should not only highlight achievements but also provide a comprehensive overview of the nation's economic, social, institutional, and security situations, along with future plans.

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And it should not only present achievements, but also the general situation of the country, the economic, social, institutional, security, human rights situation, etc. And what are the future plans of the Executive Power.