Strata symbols: Cartistas tried to pass bill, but opposition left session without quorum

Opposition lawmakers successfully blocked a controversial bill aimed at changing Paraguay's national symbols, preventing its approval by withdrawing from a legislative session to deny quorum. The bill, championed by ruling party Deputy Yamil Esgaib, sought to reintroduce designs previously used during the dictatorship of Alfredo Stroessner. This marks the latest attempt by Esgaib and his allies to alter the nation's symbols, a move that has faced significant resistance.

Esgaib has been pushing for the modification of national symbols since June 2024, arguing for the need to regulate their design. However, various institutions have maintained that any proposed changes must strictly adhere to the original descriptions from 1842. A previous attempt last year saw the bill pass the Chamber of Deputies but fail in the Senate. A subsequent effort by ruling party deputies to override the Senate's rejection also stalled.

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The cartismo once more tried to run roughshod with the approval of the bill that seeks to modify the design of national symbols in Paraguay, promoted by Yamil Esgaib, however, to avoid treatment, the opposition left the session without quorum.

Undeterred, fifteen Colorado Party deputies reintroduced a similar project, which was fast-tracked for debate within a month. To counter this, the opposition bloc strategically withdrew from the session. With several ruling party members also absent, they could not maintain the necessary quorum to push the bill through, effectively halting the "stronista" initiative for now.

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The cartista insists that the design of national symbols needs to be regulated, despite several institutions having ruled that the bill must strictly respect the original description from 1842.