Paraguay's Nascent Occupy Movement Cut Short by Political Crisis
Paraguayan President Fernando Lugo faces impeachment after violence in the country's rural interior last Friday left 11
farmers and six policemen dead. The violence comes as a result of ongoing conflict between landless peasants and landed
elites, an issue that Lugo has failed to properly address thus far in his administration. Underscoring recent
developments is a political environment consistently muddied by rhetorical maneuvering and the rise of an Occupy-like
social movement demanding reform. If successful, impeachment would mean tenuity for Paraguay's newfound two-party
political system and recent democratic reform efforts.
This analysis was prepared by Gustavo Setrini, Guest Scholar and former Research Associate at the Council on Hemispheric
Affairs.
To read the full analysis, click here.
For more detailed analysis, read...
Land Reform Issues Intensify as Paraguay Enters into a Political Crisis
The politicized response to the June 15 police-campesino clash in Curuguaty highlights the broken nature of Paraguayan
governance, where the persistent fight for political power overshadows corrupt practices and demotes land tenure issues
below the interests of landed elite. The Colorado Party-led push to impeach President Fernando Lugo represents a
political coup that threatens the democratic legitimacy of the Paraguayan state while ignoring true social concerns that
remain throughout Paraguay.
This analysis was prepared by Eric Stadius, Research Associate at the Council on Hemispheric Affairs.
To read the full analysis, click here.
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