The vice president of Paraguay decides to remain in his post, despite the US sanction

The Vice President of Paraguay, Hugo Velázquez, decided to stay in placealthough he said last week that he would resign after being sanctioned by the United States, which accused him of “significant corruption,” as indicated on Thursday.

“When I gave the floor to resign, I thought there was an investigation against me, but yesterday (Wednesday) I received an opinion from the Prosecutor in which tells me there is no reason against meVelázquez said at a press conference in which he assured that President Mario Abdo Benítez respects his decision.

“Many sectors have asked me to stop my resignation. People deserve to at least know why he was resigning from officeso that it does not go down in history that (the vice president) did it for an act of corruption “, he specified.

On August 12, the State Department sanctioned Velázquez, 54, and prevented him from entering the United States, “for his participation in significant acts of corruption, including bribery of a public official and meddling in public proceedings,” according to an official statement.

The complaint

His close associate and legal advisor to the Entidad Binacional Yacyretá hydroelectric plant, Juan Carlos Duarte, and many of his relatives were also sanctioned that day.

Velázquez then announced his intention to step down from the vice-presidency and retire from politics, to “not influence” the environment of President Abdo Benítez of the Conservative Colorado party.

“They speak of attempted bribery. I want to know who the official he was tempted to bribe is and what file I have a financial interest in, “Velázquez said on Thursday.

Last month, the State Department also sanctioned former president Horacio Cartes (2013-2018), a wealthy tobacco trader. According to Washington, Cartes thwarted “a major international investigation into transnational crime”.

What does he say

“The only thing I want to see first is the real complaint. If there is such a complaint, what state is it in,” insisted the official, who admitted he feared he could be the victim of a “montage”.

What he confirmed was his decision to withdraw from the race for candidacy of his political faction within the ruling Colorado Party, hired by the now former minister of public works and communications Arnoldo Wiens in alliance with former education minister Juan Manuel Brunetti.

Velasquez he was accused of corruption Together with the now former legal advisor of the binational entity Yacyretá (EBY) Juan Carlos Duarte, considered by the US to be a “close personal and professional collaborator” of the Paraguayan vice president.

According to the Washington Ambassador to Asunción, Marc Ostfield, Duarte, at the request of Vice President Velázquez, “offered a bribe of over a million dollars” to a public official, with the alleged intention of “obstructing an investigation that threatened the vice president and his financial interests.”

However, Velázquez said he confirmed that the Paraguayan public ministry “has no investigation” against him and that this entity will request information from the embassy to determine whether or not to pursue an investigation.

Furthermore, he said that “informally” he learned about it “There are no investigations” against him even in the United States.

When asked about Velázquez’s statements, the president of the Senate, the pro-government Óscar Salomón, told reporters that he is an “absolutely personal” decision. of the official, although he admitted that they were waiting this Thursday for the presentation of the resignation of the vice president to call an analysis session.

In any case, he confirmed that he had asked the Paraguayan foreign minister, Julio César Arriola, to appear next Monday before the directives of the Congress to “provide more information” on the US declaration.

Source: AFP and EFE

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