Politics of Paraguay

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Politics of Paraguay
Constitution Abortion law LGBT rights
Executive President Mario Abdo Benítez Vice President Hugo Velázquez Moreno Cabinet
Legislature National Congress Chamber of Senators President Chamber of Deputies President
Administrative divisions Departments Districts
Elections Recent elections General: 2008 2013 2018 Political parties
Foreign relations Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister: Diplomatic missions of / in Paraguay Nationality law Passport Visa requirements Visa policy
Paraguay portal Other countries
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Politics of Paraguay takes place in a framework of a presidential representative democratic republic.

The National Constitution mandates a separation of powers in three branches. Executive power is exercised solely by the President. Legislative power is vested in the two chambers of the National Congress. The Judiciary power is vested on Tribunals and Courts of Civil Law and a nine-member Supreme Court of Justice, all of them independent of the executive and the legislature.

The Economist Intelligence Unit rated Paraguay a "flawed democracy" in 2019.^{[1][needs update]}

Constitution[]

Paraguay's highly public government was fundamentally changed by the 1992 constitution, which reinforced a division of powers (between legislative, judiciary and executive) that in the last two Constitutions existed mostly in writing.

Executive branch[]

The president, popularly elected for a 5-year term, appoints a cabinet. The president nominates the Council of Ministers. The presidential elections of 2008 were won by Fernando Lugo, a Roman Catholic bishop whose ministerial duties have been suspended on his request by the Holy See. It was the first time in 61 years that the Colorado Party lost a presidential election in Paraguay, and only a second time that a leftist will serve as president (first time was in 1936–37) and first time freely elected.

The workplace of the President of Paraguay is the Palacio de los López, in Asuncion. The Presidential Residence is Mburuvichá Roga, also in Asuncion.

Once presidents leave office, they are granted by the Constitution the speaking-but-non-voting position of Senator for life.

Office of the First Lady[]

In Paraguay, the post of First Lady is official, and thus the Office of the First Lady the Nation of the Republic of Paraguay was created.

According to Paraguayan law, this office depends structurally and financially upon the Presidency of the Republic. The office exercises mainly social functions, but also those related to health, through the REPADEH Foundation.

Legislative branch[]

The National Congress (Congreso Nacional) has two chambers. The Chamber of Deputies (Cámara de Diputados) has 80 members, elected for a five-year term by proportional representation. The Chamber of Senators (Cámara de Senadores) has 45 members, elected for a five-year term by proportional representation.

Political parties and elections[]

Latest elections[]

President[]

Senate[]

Party		Votes	%	Seats	+/–
	Colorado Party	766,841	32.52	17	–2
	Authentic Radical Liberal Party	570,205	24.18	13	0
	Guasú Front	279,008	11.83	6	+1
	Beloved Fatherland Party	159,625	6.77	3	+3
		105,375	4.47	2	New
	Progressive Democratic Party	86,216	3.66	2	–1
		58,409	2.48	1	New
	National Union of Ethical Citizens	49,889	2.12	1	–1
	Green Party	37,812	1.60	0	0
	We are Paraguay	34,623	1.47	0	New
	National Encounter Party	30,365	1.29	0	–1
	Plurinational Indigenous Political Movement	25,785	1.09	0	New
	Christian Democratic Party	16,619	0.70	0	New
	Secure Paraguay	15,005	0.64	0	New
	Party of the Movement for Socialism	14,773	0.63	0	New
	Patriotic Reserve Movement	14,397	0.61	0	New
	Revolutionary Febrerista Party	14,332	0.61	0	0
	Kuña Pyrenda Movement	9,795	0.42	0	0
	Civic Compromise	9,542	0.40	0	New
	Concertación Nacional Avancemos País	9,478	0.40	0	New
	Party of the A	8,934	0.38	0	New
	All for Paraguay United Movement	7,269	0.31	0	New
	National Artists' Movement	6,775	0.29	0	New
	Us	5,948	0.25	0	New
	Heirs Democratic Socialist Party	5,275	0.22	0	New
	National Political Sovereignty Movement	5,065	0.21	0	New
	Movimiento Civico Nacional Unamonos	5,040	0.21	0	New
	Broad Front Party	3,403	0.14	0	New
	Union and Equality Political Movement	2,500	0.11	0	New
Total		2,358,303	100.00	45	0
Valid votes		2,358,303	91.11
Invalid/blank votes		229,993	8.89
Total votes		2,588,296	100.00
Registered voters/turnout		4,241,507	61.02
Source: TSJE

Chamber of Deputies[]

Party		Votes	%	Seats	+/–
	Colorado Party	927,183	39.10	42	–2
	Authentic Radical Liberal Party	420,821	17.74	17	–
	Great Renewed National Alliance	286,513	12.08	13	–
	Beloved Fatherland Party	105,765	4.46	3	+2
		75,601	3.19	2	New
	National Encounter Party	75,514	3.18	2	0
	National Union of Ethical Citizens	65,593	2.77	0	–2
	Guasú Front	42,891	1.81	0	–1
	Green Party	42,053	1.77	0	0
		33,417	1.41	1	New
	Progressive Democratic Party	27,932	1.18	0	0
	Christian Democratic Party	26,783	1.13	0	New
	Civic Compromise	21,651	0.91	0	New
	Broad Front Party	20,594	0.87	0	New
	We are Paraguay	18,060	0.76	0	New
	Concertación Nacional Avancemos País	16,070	0.68	0	New
	Revolutionary Febrerista Party	15,169	0.64	0	New
	National Artists' Movement	11,727	0.49	0	New
	Youth Party	10,871	0.46	0	0
	Us	10,816	0.46	0	New
	Secure Paraguay	9,651	0.41	0	New
	Patriotic Reserve Movement	9,648	0.41	0	New
	Civic Participation Party	9,567	0.40	0	New
	Party of the A	9,043	0.38	0	New
	Heirs Democratic Socialist Party	8,832	0.37	0	New
	Itapua for All Alliance	8,683	0.37	0	New
	Plurinational Indigenous Political Movement	8,094	0.34	0	New
	Movimiento Civico Nacional Unamonos	7,241	0.31	0	New
	Party of the Movement for Socialism	6,207	0.26	0	New
	All for Paraguay United Movement	5,871	0.25	0	New
	Ganar Alliance	5,476	0.23	0	–
	Party of the Patriotic Popular Movement	5,147	0.22	0	New
	National Political Sovereignty Movement	4,457	0.19	0	New
	Let's Continue Building Alliance	4,183	0.18	0	New
	Union and Equality Political Movement	3,775	0.16	0	New
	Itapuense Front Alliance	3,036	0.13	0	New
	Concertación por Vos	2,407	0.10	0	New
	Party of Popular Unity	1,329	0.06	0	New
	Tekojoja People's Movement	1,046	0.04	0	New
	Movimiento Politico Civico Nacional Unamonos	949	0.04	0	New
	All for Ñeembucu	772	0.03	0	New
	Mbarete Independent Political Movement	595	0.03	0	New
	Teete Patriotic Front Party	574	0.02	0	New
Total		2,371,607	100.00	80	0
Valid votes		2,371,607	91.84
Invalid/blank votes		210,753	8.16
Total votes		2,582,360	100.00
Registered voters/turnout		4,241,507	60.88
Source: TSJE

Judicial branch[]

Paraguay's highest court is the Supreme Court of Paraguay. The Senate and the president select its nine members on the basis of recommendations from a constitutionally created . The Supreme Court supervises all other components of the judicial branch, which include appellate courts with three members each in the areas of criminal, civil, administrative, and commercial jurisdiction; courts of first instance in these same four areas; justices of the peace dealing with more minor issues; and military courts.

Administrative divisions[]

The Constitution of Paraguay quotes "The law will regulate the various areas in which these officials and employees can provide their services, including the judicial, the diplomatic and consular professions, the areas of scientific and technological research, civil services, military and police. This will not preclude others. " Each of Paraguay's 17 departments is headed by a popularly elected governor. Paraguay is divided in 17 departments (departamentos, singular – departamento) and one capital city; Alto Paraguay, Alto Paraná, Amambay, Asunción (city), Boquerón, Caaguazú, Caazapá, Canindeyú, Central, Concepción, Cordillera, Guairá, Itapúa, Misiones, Ñeembucú, Paraguarí, Presidente Hayes, San Pedro.

International organization participation[]

CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO

See also[]

• The Stronato.

References[]

External links[]

• Chamber of Deputies of Paraguai
• Senate of Paraguay
• Presidency of Paraguay
• Supreme Court of Justice