Paraguayan Congressman Fails to Declare Interests Amidst Doubled Wealth and Protected Park Exploitation Push

Congressman José Rodríguez, a proponent of a bill to allow hydrocarbon exploitation in the Médanos del Chaco National Park, faces scrutiny for failing to submit his declaration of interests and for a dramatic increase in his personal wealth.

Rodríguez, who proposed opening a portion of the protected area for exploitation, has not filed his Declaration of Interests with the Comptroller General's Office. This document is mandated by law to reveal potential conflicts of interest for public officials. He has been in violation of this law since 2023, although a recent amendment reduced the penalty for non-compliance to a simple fine.

Adding to the concerns, Rodríguez's declared net worth has ballooned from zero to 4.4 billion Paraguayan guaraníes (approximately $600,000 USD) in just two years. This rapid accumulation of wealth occurred even before he was elected to Congress in 2023, when he was reportedly a "modest" employee of the Superior Electoral Justice Tribunal and a law professor.

Beyond these financial and transparency issues, Rodríguez has openly defended the interests of companies seeking to operate in the protected park. This stance contradicts the positions of the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development, the Ombudsman's Office, and other institutions that oppose the bill. The congressman's project aims to enable oil and gas exploration in an area designated as a protected wilderness, raising significant environmental concerns.