Paraguayan Politicians Condemn Senator's Racist Remarks Against Mbappé

Paraguayan politicians from both the ruling party and the opposition have strongly condemned Senator Celeste Amarilla for her racist and xenophobic remarks targeting French football star Kylian Mbappé. The controversy gained international attention when Mbappé himself responded directly to the senator's insults, calling them "despicable."

Basilio “Bachi” Núñez, the President of Congress, was among the first to publicly denounce Amarilla's comments. He used social media to distance the country from her statements, asserting that such messages do not represent the genuine values of Paraguayans. Núñez emphasized that football should be about honor and passion, not disqualification, and that politics and sports should remain separate.

Vice President Pedro Alliana echoed these sentiments, tweeting that football is an expression of fraternity that should unite people, leaving no room for discrimination. From the opposition, Deputy Johanna Ortega (Partido País Solidario) issued a formal apology to the French nation on behalf of the Parliament. Ortega firmly rejected the racist and hate speech, stating that passion cannot justify such discourse and that Paraguay maintains a relationship of respect and cooperation with France that Amarilla's comments do not reflect.

The widespread condemnation highlights a significant political consensus in Paraguay against racism and xenophobia, particularly in the context of international sporting events. The incident underscores the sensitivity surrounding such issues and the pressure on public figures to uphold principles of dignity and respect, even amidst passionate debates about sports.