Paraguay Senator: Court Ruling Signals Return to 'Sweeter' Dictatorship

Senator Ignacio Iramain has sharply criticized Paraguay's Supreme Court of Justice (CSJ) for rejecting former senator Kattya González's appeal against her expulsion from Congress. Iramain contends that this decision signals a regression towards authoritarianism, describing the current political climate as a dictatorship that is merely "sweeter" and more disguised than the era of Alfredo Stroessner.

Speaking on the ruling, Iramain, who now occupies the seat previously held by González, asserted that the CSJ has demonstrated a "lack of constitutionality" and has "clearly colluded with political power." He believes the court has "knelt" before the executive, thereby eliminating any semblance of separation of powers and judicial independence. "It is simply a subordination," he stated, characterizing the ruling by six members as "absolutely degrading to the court's moral standing."

Iramain further warned that the legal arguments used in González's case suggest the "rule of law is agonizing" and that Paraguay is reverting to an "authoritarian stage." He lamented that while freedom of expression might exist, it is limited, allowing citizens to "bark but not bite." He also touched upon the crisis at the Institute of Social Security (IPS), suggesting that current efforts only address symptoms rather than the root causes, which require a broader reform of the social security system.

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si no se modifica la seguridad social en general, un sistema unificado de salud esto no se va a poder resolver. Simplemente se van a tapar agujeros, baches, pero van a seguir existiendo los mismos problemas.