ASUNCION — Paraguayans started voting on Sunday in what may very well be the most important electoral problem to the ruling conservative Colorado Party in over a decade and with the nation’s lengthy ties with Taiwan doubtlessly at stake.
Polling stations opened at 7 a.m. (1100 GMT) in what is predicted to be a detailed contest between Colorado Party presidential candidate Santiago Pena, a 44-year-old economist, and 60-year-old political veteran Efrain Alegre, who’s main a broad center-left coalition and pledging a international coverage shake-up.
In addition to the single-round winner-takes-all presidential race, voters are additionally electing members of Congress and governors within the nation of fewer than 7 million folks. The first outcomes are anticipated from round 7 p.m. (2300 GMT).
The Colorado Party has dominated politics within the landlocked South American nation for the reason that Nineteen Fifties and has dominated for all however 5 of the final 75 years. But its reputation has been hit by a slowing financial system and graft allegations.
“I want change, yes, but not with Colorado, because it’s been them for over 70 years and we are suffering,” stated Miriam Sanabria, a meals vendor within the capital, Asuncion. “We need work, better security, and free medicine at hospitals.”
The build-up to the election has been dominated by the financial system, corruption allegations and the candidates’ views on Taiwan. Paraguay is certainly one of solely 13 nations to take care of formal diplomatic ties with the democratically ruled island that China views as its territory.
Alegre has criticized these ties, which have made it laborious to promote soy and beef to China, a serious international purchaser, and has stated that the nation’s farm-driven financial system doesn’t get sufficient in return from Taipei.
Pena has stated he would preserve ties with Taiwan.
Alegre stated in an interview on Sunday morning that votes being solid can be carefully monitored and he wouldn’t “give in” to makes an attempt to stop citizen participation.
“Up until now all reports are positive, the process is being carried out without any difficulties,” he informed native ABC radio.
Separately, Pena informed journalists that one of many nation’s nice challenges on this election was “for the value of democracy to grow.”
In last marketing campaign occasions, Alegre took intention at corruption allegations which have dogged Colorado Party chief Horacio Cartes, a former president who was positioned beneath US sanctions in January. Alegre known as him the “Pablo Escobar of Paraguay.” Cartes denies the allegations.
Pena acknowledged celebration divisions in his closing marketing campaign speech and promised to be “a symbol of party unity.”
Catherine Gonzalez, a scholar, felt that not one of the candidates supplied issues most conventional folks wanted.
“I think they’re very far away from the day-to-day reality people live in, the people who use public transport, the people who earn the minimum wage and must survive, pay rent and support their family,” she stated. — Reuters
Source: www.gmanetwork.com
