Paraguay Senators Earn G. 38 Million a Month but Skipped Session for Birthday Barbecue

Paraguay’s Senate failed to meet after Colorado Party lawmakers left the chamber without a quorum, with a birthday barbecue cited among the reasons. Liberal-Colorado senator José “Pakova” Ledesma invited colleagues to lunch to mark his birthday and that of Blanca Ovelar, an opposition Colorado Party senator.

The missed ordinary and extraordinary sessions drew criticism from members of the press, particularly because senators earn nearly G. 38 million a month. Senator Derlis Maidana defended the absence, calling it a “commercial break” and leaving open the possibility that Senate President Basilio “Bachi” Núñez might summon a later extraordinary session to complete the agenda.

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commercial break

After hours of uncertainty, the Colorado Party senators did not return to provide a quorum. Maidana said lawmakers had been handling various matters, including meeting people and visiting ministries. He also said senators rarely leave Senate sessions without a quorum, despite the practice being common in the Chamber of Deputies.

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We have no problem meeting. It’s just that everyone is handling many matters, meeting people and visiting ministries

Asked about the country’s health-system crisis, Maidana said President Santiago Peña’s government was making progress with doctors who have been mobilizing. He cited a presidential announcement of an increase of more than $127 million for the Ministry of Health, while acknowledging that the government still had to find the money to meet at least part of the medical sector’s expectations.

Maidana supported a proposal from fellow Colorado Party senator Gustavo Leite to cut unnecessary spending in the national budget. He said public spending had improved in Congress since the so-called Godoy Law, but acknowledged that broader action was needed in the executive branch, which controls 95% of the budget.

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is making progress