On March 11, the Executive appointed Vicente Bataglia as the new president of the Social Security Institute (IPS) to replace Andrés Gubetich, who was forced to resign after several corruption scandals.
Bataglia is the target of criticism after a team of surgical doctors mistakenly amputated a patient’s left leg, when the amputation was supposed to be on his right leg.
Abdo Benítez, President of the Republic, called for silence on this case. And Bataglia himself does not intend to resign after the scandal.
With the head of IPS, there are cases in which Abdo Benítez made improvisations for positions in key institutions. Next, we review some of them.
MORE CASES
Omar Pico was appointed on February 10 as the new president of the Paraguayan Indigenous Institute (INDI). However, a day later, he admitted to radio media that he has no experience working with native peoples. And that, for this reason, he will hire advisers who will guide him on the issues to be discussed.
Pico joins other high officials who also do not have enough experience but who hold high positions such as Ariel Oviedo (Minister of the Environment), Arnoldo Wiens (Public Works) and Carla Bacigalupo (Labor).
Oviedo is held responsible for environmental damage that occurred in the San Bernardino lake, as in the two lagoons that were dyed red and that are located in Loma Plata (Chaco) and Limpio. Just to cite the emblematic cases.
Criticism of Wiens revolves around the collapse of the Tacuatí bridge in San Pedro, which left three dead. In addition, the “Ñanduti” footbridge was directed in favor of the Engineering firm.
This walkway that connects Guasú Park with the Paraguayan Olympic Committee (COP), had a cost of US$ 2 million.
Bacigalupo is held responsible for the number of jobs lost during the pandemic, which according to the Clasista Trade Union Current amounts to more than 200,000.
CHANGES OF MINISTERS
Precisely, due to the lack of a suitable election of ministers, at the beginning of March 2021, Abdo Benítez suffered one of the worst political crises of his mandate. Some 10,000 people demonstrating in downtown Asuncion forced the national president to remove Eduardo Petta, Minister of Education (MEC), Nilda Romero, Minister for Women, and Juan Ernesto Villamayor, Chief of Civil Cabinet, from their posts.
ANALYSTS
Sara Villalba, a political scientist, explained that in most cases, the selection criteria do not include merit or aptitude, that is, the selection process is not meritocratic.
“What is noticeable is that what prevails when choosing is the loyalty of the applicant towards the person of Abdo Benítez or towards his movement. And this has increased especially in recent times, given the strong electoral dispute that exists between the internal movements of the ANR”, he explained.
For the analyst, this dispute also includes attracting loyal people to one faction or another, so one way to ensure people’s loyalty is to appoint them to important positions.
Jorge Rolón Luna, a former member of the Truth and Justice Commission, pointed out that the problem goes beyond Abdo Benítez. He affirmed that this custom of electing people unsuitable for public office is something customary in Colorado governments.
“Now we see that a person who does not handle languages and has no experience in diplomatic positions, like Ángel Paniagua, who is aspiring to be ambassador to Qatar. This has been the management model of the ANR and Abdo Benítez has not escaped”, he stated.
