Paraguayan Senator Urges Vote Against Colorado Party, Citing Decades of Failure

Senator Celeste Amarilla has called on Paraguayans to reject the long-ruling Colorado Party in the upcoming 2028 presidential elections, citing decades of alleged "inefficiency, inoperancia, and corruption." Speaking in the Senate, Amarilla argued that the party has failed to address the nation's core problems, including persistent poverty and the ongoing presence of the self-styled Paraguayan People's Army (EPP) guerrilla group.

Amarilla linked the structural poverty prevalent in certain regions to the EPP's continued activity. She suggested that a lack of opportunities and state support in marginalized communities fosters recruitment and collaboration with criminal organizations. The senator described a "feedback loop" between the EPP and drug trafficking, asserting that the state has been incapable of improving living conditions in areas most affected by social exclusion.

During her address, Amarilla specifically mentioned communities like Huber Duré settlement and the towns of Maracaná, Nueva Durango, and Naranjito, questioning why they remain mired in poverty despite the passage of time. She criticized the government's approach, suggesting it has focused on land distribution without creating genuine development opportunities.

Her proposal for the Colorado Party to "go to the plains" and let another party try governing was met with laughter from Senate First Vice President Ramón Retamozo. This reaction underscores the deep political divisions and the Colorado Party's entrenched position in Paraguayan politics, despite opposition calls for change.