Paraguay General Election Sunday

HAVANA TIMES – About 3 ½ million Paraguayans are eligible to vote in this Sunday’s general elections, reported Pulsar news service.

The voters will decide on a president, vice president, 45 senators, 80 congress persons, 17 governors and 17 departmental boards. In addition, they will choose 18 representatives to Mercosur.

The campaign closed on Thursday and the authorities began distributing the materials necessary for voting.

Former Costa Rican president, Oscar Arias, heads the observer mission of the Organization of American States. He told reporters he expects to see an  “exemplary” and “absolutely transparent” election.

Moreover, the representative of the observation mission of the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR), Salomon Lerner, said the return of Paraguay to that regional organization will depend on the credibility of the vote.

The winner will succeed the liberal Federico Franco, who took office after an “express” impeachment that removed Fernando Lugo from office in June last year.

According to recent polls, the election for President will be contested by candidates of the two traditional parties, between Horacio Cartes, of the Colorado Party, and Efrain Alegre, for the Liberal Party.

Other major candidates are Mario Ferreira, for Avanza País; Anibal Carrillo for Frente Guasú; Miguel Carrizosa, for Patria Querida and Lilian Soto, by the feminist movement Kuña Pyrendá. (PULSAR)