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Paraguay senator's reelection proposal sparks 'collusion' accusations
🇵🇾 Paraguay /Elections & Politics

Paraguay senator's reelection proposal sparks 'collusion' accusations

From ABC Color · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Senator Dionisio Amarilla proposed a constitutional reform for presidential reelection in exchange for a runoff vote, drawing criticism for potentially colluding with Horacio Cartes.
  • Amarilla accused the PLRA party leader of prioritizing party headquarters renovations over discussing the reform.
  • Critics argue Amarilla and Senator Basilio Núñez are feigning opposition to advance Cartes's reelection bid.

A political maneuver in Paraguay has ignited debate, with Senator Dionisio Amarilla proposing a constitutional reform that would allow presidential reelection in exchange for implementing a runoff voting system. This proposal has drawn accusations of collusion, particularly with former President Horacio Cartes, whom Amarilla admits to meeting with multiple times.

The president-elect, Alcides Riveros, has been silent lately. We would have liked him to comment on this issue, we haven't heard him. Maybe he speculates excessively or is more concerned with renovating the Party Directorate.

— Dionisio AmarillaCriticizing the PLRA party leader for not engaging in the debate over constitutional reform for reelection.

Amarilla, a senator from the Liberal Radical Authentic Party (PLRA), has publicly challenged his party's president, Alcides Riveros. He criticized Riveros for remaining silent on the reelection proposal and suggested the party leader is more focused on renovating the party headquarters. Amarilla vowed to push the issue within the PLRA's Directorate, even if he anticipates the party might not support his stance.

Critics, including sectors opposed to the current government, view Amarilla's actions, along with those of Senator Basilio "Bachi" Núñez, as a coordinated effort to facilitate Cartes's potential reelection. They allege the senators are feigning a public dispute while secretly working together. This suspicion is fueled by past incidents, including Amarilla reportedly fleeing a party meeting after being accused of being a "sellout" to Cartismo.

I would have liked him to participate in this debate, we are going to force the Directorate to give an opinion, although it will probably not support the position I defend.

— Dionisio AmarillaStating his intention to push for a party discussion on his reelection proposal.

Amarilla defended his proposal, stating that a runoff vote ensures a president has a majority mandate. He pointed out that the National Republican Association (ANR) has won recent elections without a popular majority and suggested that other former presidents, including Santiago Peña, might also be interested in reelection. He cited examples of runoff systems in other Latin American countries, while notably omitting the controversial 2017 attempt at reelection that led to widespread protests and violence.

It's not just a message to Mr. Horacio Cartes.

— Dionisio AmarillaSuggesting his reelection proposal has broader implications beyond just Horacio Cartes.
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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