Paraguayan Deputies Demand Peña Pay for "Dirty Campaign"; Warn of "Gag Law"

Deputies in Paraguay have strongly condemned President Santiago Peña, accusing him of orchestrating a "dirty campaign" against political opponents and critical journalists, allegedly financed with public money. The accusations surfaced during a parliamentary session where several lawmakers voiced their outrage over the alleged use of government funds for smear campaigns.

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With the stronismo media "Voz Nacional" and "Diario Patria," he compared the deputy Raúl Benítez (Independent) the scheme of the "dirty campaign" on social networks against opponents and the press that would allegedly be financed by the government of Santiago Peña.

Lawmaker Raúl Benítez drew parallels between the current alleged tactics and the media practices during the "stronismo" dictatorship, citing "Voz Nacional" and "Diario Patria" as examples of state-funded outlets used for propaganda and attacking dissidents. He presented copies of these newspapers as evidence, arguing that a similar pattern is now unfolding in the digital sphere through social media campaigns.

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The deputy Johanna Ortega (Partido País Solidario), for her part, reproached the attitude of the "capricious," "ignorant," and "mafioso" "chetito," and warned that she would oppose it if they decided to propose any type of "gag" law against the press.

Johanna Ortega, another deputy, sharply criticized the president, labeling him a "capricious," "ignorant," and "mafioso" figure. She vowed to vehemently oppose any legislative attempts to introduce a "gag law" that would stifle press freedom, asserting that such measures would be met with firm resistance in defense of democratic principles. The deputies also highlighted the alleged involvement of Juan Roberto "Jimmy" Villaverde, initially dismissed as a mere "cartista militant," but later revealed to have been a government official, further fueling suspicions of a coordinated state-sponsored campaign.

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During the speakers' stage of the ordinary session of the date, several deputies repudiated the "mafioso" reaction of the President of the Republic, Santiago Peña, for threatening journalists who inquired about his suspicious fortune, as well as for allegedly financing his "dirty campaign" against opponents with public funds.

Benítez argued that the government's initial denial regarding Villaverde's role exposed a lie, making it clear that public funds were used for a "repugnant communication campaign" targeting opposition figures, dissidents, journalists, and media outlets. He asserted that this campaign serves a "secret government agenda" aimed at achieving censorship.

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They also warned the cartistas that if they intend to promote a gag law to censor the media, they will have them in front of them in defense of democracy.