PARAGUAY: Pressure mounts following the quick removal of President Fernando Lugo from power, most Paraguayans have returned to their everyday lives

Record ID: 450520

  • Title: PARAGUAY: Pressure mounts following the quick removal of President Fernando Lugo from power, most Paraguayans have returned to their everyday lives
  • Date: 26th June 2012
  • Summary: VARIOUS OF DOWNTOWN STREETS SCENES VARIOUS OF MEETING BETWEEN FORMER PARAGUAYAN PRESIDENT FERNANDO LUGO'S CABINET AND GOVERNMENT MINISTERS VARIOUS OF DEMONSTRATORS SUPPORTING LUGO OUTSIDE PUBLIC TELEVISION STATION UNIVERSITY STUDENT, LORENZO DUARTE, CARRYING A SIGN READING, 'HONK AGAINST THE COUP' (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) UNIVERSITY STUDENT, LORENZO DUARTE, SAYING: "We a
  • Embargoed: 11th July 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Paraguay
  • Country: Paraguay
  • Topics: International Relations,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAB3PRZOCPJLEWE1B5H7ZSRFGAD
  • Story Text: Lugo's vice president, Federico Franco, an often vocal critic of the ousted president, took office on Friday (June 22) moments after the former Roman Catholic bishop was ousted by the opposition-controlled Congress in an impeachment hearing that lasted less than six hours.
    As Lugo's government was dissolved, Paraguay's new centre-right president swore in his cabinet on Monday.
    For most it was business as usual following the news, but a small group of Lugo supporters gathered outside a public television station urging drivers to honk their horns in support of the 61-year-old former leader as they drove by.
    "We are here and convinced that, more than Lugo, we are defending the process of change we started in 2008 [year Lugo won the presidency]," one of the demonstrators, university student Lorenzo Duarte told Reuters.
    Lugo was elected president in 2008 and vowed to improve the quality of life of low-income families when his election ended six decades of rule by the conservative Colorado party.
    But he struggled to push reforms, including land redistribution to poor peasant farmers, through Congress. A cancer scare and several paternity scandals dating back to his time as a bishop added to his difficulties.
    Other Asuncion residents told Reuters they were taking the power shift in their stride even as the world watches events in the landlocked soy-exporting nation with concern.
    "Really, I don't think it is so good, you know? But what's done is done and well, we have to try and move forward, right? Despite the fact that a lot of countries are against everything that happened - but what can we do? We have to find the best way to open up and talk, right?" said store clerk, Maria Estela Dos Santos.
    In addition to holding his first cabinet meeting on Monday, Franco also met with departmental governors as the government shrugged of international pressure saying it is in line with the constitution.
    Franco's administration has been banned from attending a summit this week of the Mercosur which also includes Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay.
    Lugo will take part in the gathering and officials say Paraguay could be suspended from the bloc and the UNASUR group of South American nations, which may hold an emergency meeting this week to discuss the crisis, diplomatic sources said.
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