Last Monday, the Chamber of Deputies sent to the archive a new impeachment attempt against Sandra Quiñónez, state attorney general. With 15 votes in favor of the trial, 28 against, 3 abstentions and 34 absences, the initiative of a bloc of opposition parties plus a majority of the ruling party failed.
The striking aspect of this is that a part of the opposition Liberals decided to remain in session, allowing the necessary quorum to deal with the document. Despite the fact that they voted in favor of the trial, the only thing they achieved was that the project be discussed and it ended up being sent to the archive. This situation generated a strong rejection in part of the public opinion. To such an extent that some of the liberals affected had to announce at a press conference that it was just “a mix-up.” They also announced that they will present a new impeachment trial against Quiñónez.
On the side of the Colorado ruling party there was also criticism, given that two ruling party members voted against the trial, such as Miguel Cuevas and Luis Urbieta.
PRONOUNCEMENT
Given the new request for impeachment, the Public Ministry issued a statement rejecting the new attempt to submit the State Attorney General to a Political Trial, “because it is evident that the purpose being pursued is to undermine the institutionality of the Public Ministry with electoral purposes”, according to what is read in the post published on social networks.
ANALYSTS
«The figure of Efraín Alegre is weakened»
What do you think of the failed impeachment attempt?
Hugo Estigarribia, a former senator, affirmed that there is a lack of leadership in the PLRA to convince its deputies about the importance of impeachment. “The imperative mandate is prohibited. But precisely the political leadership is what shows its condition by convincing, influencing and persuading the PLRA deputies not to make a quorum so that they reject the political trial and then a supposed sanction, which is not understood why it was not given, ”he said. the.
For the analyst, the new presentation of a political trial is just putting a Band-Aid on cancer, to give an example. “It is a kind of whitewashing operation of what they did the day before. And the leadership of the PLRA lent itself to that. They applied the famous doctrine of protecting the ‘correlí’ and not throwing it out. These hesitant leadership positions of the PLRA take away from Alegre the credibility of his speech with a view to leading the Coalition tomorrow”, he expressed.
Was there really a confusion in the liberals?
The argument of the Liberals that there was a “confusion” and that is why they participated in the session where they sent the political trial of Sandra Quiñónez to the file, is not credible for Estigarribia. “I was a legislator, I know perfectly well that at the moment I make a quorum, even if I have an opposite position, I am favoring the rejection of something. So it is a lie to confuse the electorate and those who do not know the parliamentary management. Those of us who know, know perfectly well that if you are present and give him a number, the adversaries are achieving their objective. The ones who did well are the ones who walked out of the room,” he said.
He said that with the press conference, the Liberal deputies were whitewashed. “This should have been exemplary sanctioned in the Liberal Party, first it had to prevent its deputies from acting like this. And if they did not succeed, they should be sanctioned and not given a safe-conduct,” he commented.
How does this situation affect Alegre?
Finally, he affirmed that the figure of Efraín Alegre as presidential candidate for the Coalition is greatly weakened. As a candidate for the PLRA and a candidate for the Coalition, he joins a chartist (for Soledad Núñez) who will accompany him as a presidential duo. “He’s losing shape,” he concluded.
“A break is given to ANR candidates”
What do you think of the failed impeachment attempt?
Selva Castiñeira, a political scientist, said that part of the Liberal Party (PLRA) has its internal conflicts and fragmentations. And there is a sector of the party that loudly supports the ‘Honor Colorado’ movement (Chartism within the ANR). “The PLRA could expel them or prevent them from running for the Coalition, once the Court of Conduct decides it after a mandate from the board of directors and not only because of the decision of Efraín Alegre,” she said.
He stressed that the expulsions can only take place by mandate of the board and not by a decision clearly by Efraín Alegre, even though he is president of the Liberal party. “I think the impeachment trial was delayed quite a bit. This gives time to vote against. In addition, in the country, it is only successful due to citizen pressure”, he commented.
Was there really a confusion in the liberals?
For the analyst, the Liberals’ argument that there was confusion, and that is why they participated in the moment of the vote, is not credible. “It’s too easy to excuse yourself after that and vote for it. The party would have to see if that is valid as an excuse to do what they did,” she noted.
He commented that the board should meet and make a decision since the request for the expulsion of legislators only arose at the initiative of Alegre. “Not everyone agrees with the decision he is making. This decision must be made in the match. It was not proceeded in the correct way as one should proceed in a match, ”he maintained.
He said that Efraín should analyze the decisions he is making as the leader he intends to be. And that he does not harm his candidacy or the Coalition itself. “Decisions must be made within the party and not in an authoritarian way,” he commented.
How does this situation affect Alegre?
He finally said that the internal conflicts between Efrainism and Llanism affect and make the situation more tense just four months before the elections. «Alegre should strengthen himself as a candidate and position himself in the polls. This only gives the ANR candidates a break », he commented.
“Alegre has a conduct against the mafia”
What do you think of the failed impeachment attempt?
Pilar Callizo, a master’s degree in politics and management, pointed out that it was an unfortunate spectacle that took place, since a political trial against Sandra Quiñónez, state attorney general, has been promoted for a long time, but it does not prosper in the Chamber of Deputies. “Above all, that had been decided unanimously in a decision of the party directory. Therefore, no deputy who is representing and has been voted in his liberal condition, can say that he was unaware of the importance of this trial that was being carried out. In addition, all these people have long experience in parliamentary practice”, she commented.
He argued that the subsequent presentation of another political trial already sees that the result will be the same. “It will be just to question the return to the game”, he commented.
Was there really a confusion in the liberals?
For Callizo, it can happen that someone misses a certain fact and can make a mistake, but what is striking is that even important referents had risen up and it is not understood why, if they were ready and attentive, they did not act in the same way. “It is a shame because this compromises the behavior of these deputies, it compromises the prestige of the party and all of us who make up that great party political structure that has shown throughout history, having been in the most difficult moments in the history of Paraguay” , he mentioned.
He affirmed that with the experience they have, this confusion can only occur in two to three people but not in 13. “In any case, this behavior is striking, especially because of the consequence,” he mentioned.
How does this situation affect Alegre?
Finally, he pointed out that Efraín cannot be responsible for the acts of those who are representing the party in the corresponding positions. “Obviously it is not a pleasant situation, it is extremely unpleasant, what we do need to know is that he, during all this time, had a speech and conduct that he has carried out during all this time against the mafia and corruption and everything that is doing so much harm to the country”, he concluded.
“PLRA is playing with people’s patience”
What do you think of the failed impeachment attempt?
Cristian Bianciotto, a political journalist and director of Oviedo Press, pointed out that there was completely incoherent behavior on the part of the Liberals. “Certain legislators were expected but not Celso Kennedy, precisely he is the one who does not sign the new impeachment attempt, it is only to mitigate the negative impact they generated in society, and that was turned against them. It has no major effects, ”he commented.
For the communicator, a new political trial will not prosper because in the last session, they already left without a quorum. “The Liberal Party, through 15 members of the caucus, lent themselves to the game, for which all this has been delayed,” he mentioned.
Was there really a confusion in the liberals?
He questioned the behavior of Celeste Amarilla who participated in the legislators’ press conference. And instead of condemning her colleagues, she tried to justify them.
For the analyst, Alegre should generate a penalty as promised against the legislators. But, on the other hand, he continues to delay the punishments. “The legislators did not adapt to what was established in the Coalition and absolutely nothing has been done,” he said.
He said that there was no confusion or misunderstandings since they are deputies with vast experience in the Lower House. “In the case of Celso Kennedy, who is from Colonel Oviedo, he is a person who has been in the Chamber of Deputies for nine years. He is the promoter of the trial, it cannot be that he is not aware that he was going to try to leave the session without a quorum. Also, he could have visually noticed that the others dropped out,” he commented.
How does this situation affect Alegre?
Finally, he expressed that Alegre would have been less affected if he had not taken a position as lukewarm as the one pronounced on Tuesday. “There was no sanction or penalty as they had announced. That is to say, there is a kind of intention to whitewash deputies for an electoral issue. Efraín sure calculates the number of votes that each one of them could generate, ”he mentioned.
