Special Focus: Parliamentary Coup in Paraguay
On June 22, 2012, the Paraguayan Senate found President Fernando Lugo guilty of impeachment charges in a 39 to 4 vote, resulting in his removal from office. This parliamentary coup against democratically-elected, left-leaning President Fernando Lugo has been strongly rejected by Latin American leaders who say that they will not recognize the new Paraguayan government.
Read about what lies behind Paraguay’s crisis and how diverse sectors of the population —including indigenous people, academics, social activists, feminists, LGBTI people, women and human rights organisations are organising to reject corruption, demanding respect for the democratic process and the rights and wellbeing of the entire population.
| Background |
| Lugo denounces removal from Paraguay presidency as coup
Fernando Lugo has denounced his removal from Paraguay's presidency Paraguay's Lugo condemns 'parliamentary coup' The deposed Paraguay president Fernando Lugo has branded the country's new government illegitimate and called for a return to democratic rule following his sudden impeachment two days ago. Paraguay's ousted president, Fernando Lugo, denounces 'parliamentary coup' The ousted president of Paraguay, Fernando Lugo, has denounced his removal from office as a "parliamentary coup" that was not based on proper evidence. |
| Analysis and Declarations |
| Paraguay Parliamentary Coup: Another Strike Against Latin American Democracy On June 22, 2012, almost three years after the coup d’etat in Honduras, the Paraguayan Senate removed President Fernando Lugo from office after finding him guilty of impeachment in a 39 to 4 vote. AWID talked with Paraguayan political scientist and feminist lawyer Line Bareiro about this situation. Post-Coup Paraguay: An Interview with Fernando Lugo The left-leaning bishop Fernando Lugo was elected in 2008 as President of Paraguay. With his election, 61 years of rule by the conservative Colorado Party ended. Similar to what has happened in several other Latin American countries in recent years, the new government set up social programs and longstanding relations with the United States were slowly replaced by alliances with neighboring countries. Impeachment of Paraguayan President Sparks Institutional Crisis The Paraguayan Congress removed President Fernando Lugo from office Friday in an impeachment trial that lasted only a few hours. |
| News |
| EU commission investigates Paraguayan impeachment A delegation from the European Parliament began a mission in Paraguay Monday to investigate the impeachment of former President Fernando Lugo. Mercosur Court Rejects Paraguay's Request To Lift Sanctions The Permanent Court of the Southern Common Market (Mercosur) rejected the Paraguayan government's request to lift sanctions imposed on the country over the impeachment of the constitutional president, Fernando Lugo. |