Paraguay Senate Week 'Key' for Ruling Party's Comptroller Office Takeover

Paraguay's ruling party, Honor Colorado, is poised to solidify its control over the nation's comptroller's office in a move critics are calling an unprecedented "copamiento" or takeover since the end of the dictatorship. This week is considered pivotal as the Senate prepares to finalize nominations for Comptroller General and Deputy Comptroller.

The dominant faction, Honor Colorado, is expected to reelect Camilo Benítez to the Comptroller General position. Armindo Torres, currently the director of sworn statements, is the favored candidate for Deputy Comptroller. This consolidation of power within the Contraloría General de la República has been openly discussed by party leaders, including Senate President Basilio “Bachi” Núñez and bloc leader Natalicio Chase.

Adding to the controversy, both Benítez and Torres have faced scrutiny for their past actions. They are credited with issuing a "property correspondence examination" for President Santiago Peña, which reportedly found no irregularities despite a significant increase in his wealth between 2017 and 2023. Concerns have also been raised about the approval of a US$900,000 mansion construction by Peña, linked to companies and a bank that have received government business, and built on property for which Peña allegedly did not yet possess the title.

In response to the perceived bias in the selection process, the National Directorate of the Authentic Radical Liberal Party (PLRA) has directed its members to withdraw their candidacies. However, some liberal politicians, including current congressman Jorge Ávalos Mariño and current Deputy Comptroller Augusto Paiva, remain on the list of 36 candidates submitted by the Senate's Constitutional Affairs Commission, defying the party's directive.