Paraguay began the countdown to electing its new president next Sunday, immersed in an austere campaign and little citizen mobilization, in which the economist Santiago Peña tries to keep the historic Colorado Party in government against a coalition of opposition led by the liberal Efraín Alegre.

Eight days before election day, the atmosphere is relatively normal and without clear forecasts on the possible outcome of the polls, from which the successor of the current governor, Mario Abdo Benítez, will emerge.

Some polls circulating on social networks indicate a technical tie between Alegre and Pena.

Also standing out in the fight for the presidency are the controversial lawyer and former Paraguayan senator Cubas – third according to some polls -, the former foreign minister Euclides Acevedo and the former soccer goalkeeper José Luis Chilavert.

Suspicions about campaign funds

The atmosphere in Asunción, the country’s capital, is one of little proselytizing activity despite the fact that there are four days left before the official deadline for the dissemination of propaganda in the streets and public spaces, as well as in the media.

The campaign ended marked by the financial sanctions that the United States imposed in January on the former president and leader of the Colorado Party, Horacio Cartes, for his alleged participation in acts of corruption.

Unlike last December’s primaries, in which he was the center of public attention and was elected president of the Colorado Party or the so-called National Republican Association (ANR), Cartes has opted for a low profile in recent weeks.

The former president had to delegate the management and administration to third parties as a signatory and representative of the governing party of the resources for the campaign, following the US measures.

The Colorado Party, which has governed Paraguay for the past 70 years except for the mandate of former bishop Fernando Lugo (2008-2012), has had to resort to legal options to finance the rest of the electoral contest.

The ANR asked the Superior Court of Electoral Justice (TSJE) days ago to transfer to a bank, at the end of these elections and the processes foreseen by law, part of the funds it expects to receive as electoral subsidies and the contribution of the State to political groups.

“The credit has already been issued, the money has already been deposited in the account and on Monday the resource will be distributed for transport, for the per diem of friends and also for the party that will be held”, announces the sentence. the party’s candidate for vice-presidency, the deputy Pedro Alliana, on the requested funds.

Alliana, quoted in a statement from her party, made the announcement during an electoral event in Itaipúa, capital of the department of Encarnación (south).

In addition, 18 of the departmental organizations grouped in the opposition coalition Concertation national have asked to use this mechanism to pay for their latest proselytizing activities.

few proposals

To the poor promotion of the parties was added the cancellation of the traditional debate among the top two contenders for the presidency. The organizers gave up holding it after Peña made it a condition of participation that other of his rivals were invited and not just Alegre, as the format of the discussion was originally intended.

Criticism and allegations of corruption have monopolized the scenereplacing government programs.

The candidates have so far outlined proposals on specific topics: Peña has promised 500,000 new jobs and programs such as chau chespi (crack), to reduce drug use and promote rehabilitation, or to acquire one’s own home through flexible rental loans lease or construction of social housing.

Alegre announced in recent days the names of those who will make up his cabinet in an eventual government, mostly from different political sectors, including Colorado.

Likewise, he proposed free access to medicines, broadening internet coverage and a policy of participation and protection for women.

Source: EFE