Paraguay

• Wednesday, April 23rd 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Elected Paraguayan president confirms Mercosur membership

  Elected president Fernando Lugo, who takes office on August 15, pledged to maintain Paraguay's membership in the Mercosur trade block, which includes Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay, and strengthen integration mechanisms. He also announced he would seek relations with Beijing, currently non existent.

• Tuesday, April 22nd 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Paraguayan president Duarte will lead block in next Senate

  Paraguayan president Nicanor Duarte said on Monday he's considering resigning before August 15, when his mandate expires, which means vice president Francisco Oviedo would then be in charge of passing the sash to elected president Fernando Lugo.

• Sunday, April 20th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Paraguay cracks six decades of iron fist one party rule

  

  Former Catholic bishop Fernando Lugo won a historic victory in Paraguay's Sunday presidential election, signaling the demise of more than six decades of one-party hegemonic rule in one of South America's poorest countries.

• Friday, April 18th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Paraguay: old regime could begin to crumble on Sunday

  

  The last 48 hours before Sunday's vote to elect president and a new Congress in Paraguay are showing the strains of an ancient regime that has ruled undisputedly in the country for over six decades but which seems condemned according to the prevailing opinion polls for the last twelve months.

• Thursday, April 17th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Paraguayan election, another energy challenge for Brazil

  

  Energy and energy security has snowballed as an issue in the last leg of the Paraguayan presidential election of next Sunday, April 20. The two heavy weight neighbors are highly dependent on Paraguayan energy resources and all Paraguayan leading candidates have promised a review of the contracts “which are most unfair for our country”.

• Monday, April 14th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Former bishop retains lead in Paraguay's presidential race

  With five days for next Sunday's Paraguay's presidential election former Catholic Bishop Fernando Lugo is still the front-runner but his lead over rival candidates has narrowed, according to a public opinion poll published on Ultima Hora Sunday's edition.

• Tuesday, April 8th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Paraguay: former bishop leads in run up to presidential election

  

  Paraguayan former Catholic bishop Fernando Lugo supported by opposition and citizens groups disenchanted with the current political system leads with 36.8% in the race to April 20 presidential elections, according to the latest public opinion poll published by La Nación. This represents a two point win over the March poll.

• Wednesday, April 2nd 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Paraguay faces double impact of the weakening US dollar

  Paraguay is increasingly concerned with the weakness of the US dollar which together with the landlocked South American country commodities export boom is appreciating the local currency far above the Central Bank's target.

• Thursday, March 27th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Paraguayan leaders to demand new energy deal with Brazil

  

  The three major candidates for Paraguay's presidential election next April 20 have agreed on one thing this week: Brazil must pay more for energy from the Itaipú dam on a river border between the two nations.

• Thursday, March 27th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Paraguay: former bishop reaffirms lead in coming election

  

  Former Catholic bishop Fernando Lugo continues to lead in the run up to Paraguay's presidential election followed by the incumbent candidate Blanca Olevar, according to the latest public opinion poll.