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PLRA: Expulsion not ruled out for convicted members
🇵🇾 Paraguay /Elections & Politics

PLRA: Expulsion not ruled out for convicted members

From ABC Color · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • The new president of Paraguay's Liberal Radical Authentic Party (PLRA) Tribunal of Conduct stated that the party will not rule out expelling members convicted of corruption.
  • Edgar Villalba Riquelme, the newly elected president, clarified that pending cases will be reviewed first, respecting the right to defense to ensure resolutions are not annulled.
  • The tribunal will also examine cases of party members accused of not supporting official candidates in municipal elections, addressing them on a case-by-case basis.

The Liberal Radical Authentic Party (PLRA) in Paraguay may expel members who have been convicted of corruption, according to the party's new Tribunal of Conduct president. Edgar Villalba Riquelme stated that while they will not rule out such sanctions, the tribunal will first prioritize reviewing pending cases.

If that circumstance arises, of course.

— Edgar Villalba RiquelmeResponding to a question about reviewing cases of party members convicted of corruption.

Villalba Riquelme, who was recently elected president of the PLRA's Tribunal of Conduct, emphasized the importance of respecting the right to defense. This measure aims to prevent any resolutions from being annulled by the Superior Electoral Justice Tribunal (TSJE) or the Supreme Court.

"If that circumstance arises, of course," Villalba Riquelme said in an exclusive interview with ABC Digital, when asked if he would review the cases of party members already convicted of corruption. He added that they are currently requesting reports from outgoing authorities and former tribunal members regarding pending cases.

In this moment we are asking for reports from the outgoing authorities, and from the former members of the Tribunal of Conduct about the pending cases.

— Edgar Villalba RiquelmeExplaining the initial steps in reviewing pending cases.

The tribunal will then determine which cases need to be advanced, distributed, and assigned to investigating judges. The ultimate decision, whether to sanction or absolve, will be based on analysis and statutory provisions. Additionally, the tribunal will address, on a case-by-case and district-by-district basis, any accusations against members for failing to support official PLRA candidates in the municipal elections held on October 4. Villalba Riquelme noted that while the PLRA has approved alliances with other opposition forces, supporting candidates from other groups, internal party discipline requires members not to campaign against official candidates outside of these agreed-upon alliances.

One of the main causes for sanction is to conduct electoral campaigns against the official candidates of the party, supporting the adversaries of that official candidacy of the party.

— Edgar Villalba RiquelmeDefining a key reason for disciplinary action within the party.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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