Protests as Paraguay’s president impeached

Published on 24/06/2012 02:47

PARAGUAY has been plunged into political crisis after president Fernando Lugo was rapidly impeached by the country’s senate, unleashing a wave of criticism in Latin America.

The former Roman Catholic bishop, elected on a pledge to help Paraguay’s poor, said he would step aside following Friday’s Senate vote, even though he called it a blow to democracy.

His quick acceptance of this appeared to have prevented a bigger confrontation and potentially violent protests in the streets of Paraguay’s capital of Asuncion, where Lugo’s supporters had gathered.

However, other South American presidents were critical of the impeachment trial, which several called a de- facto coup d’etat.

“This goes beyond Fernando Lugo. It goes beyond Paraguay. It’s about true democracy for all of our America,” said Ecuador’s president, Rafael Correa, saying his government will not recognise any government in Paraguay other than Lugo’s.

In Argentina, the government of president Cristina Fernandez said it “is not going to validate the coup d’etat that just occurred” in Paraguay. Bolivian president Evo Morales also called it a coup.

Colombian president Juan Manuel Santos also expressed concern. “These legal procedures shouldn’t be used to abuse,” Santos said. “What we want is to help stability and democracy be maintained in Paraguay.”

The country’s senate tried Lugo on five charges of malfeasance in office, including an alleged role in a deadly confrontation between police and landless farmers that left 17 dead.

After the five-hour trial, 39 senators voted to dismiss Lugo, while four senators voted against and two were absent.

During the trial in the senate, Lugo’s supporters had massed in the streets facing off with riot police. But Lugo later went on national television to say he would step down.