Hugo Portillo (62 years old), journalist and pre-candidate for President of the Republic for the Christian Democratic Party (PDC) analyzed in an interview with 5Días TV, the current situation of the Coalition and his motivations to aspire to the Executive.
He affirms that the opposition bloc will reach the Executive in 2023 and that it only remains to define whether they will also have a majority in Congress.
What is your evaluation of the progress of the Coalition?
The flagship set sail. This government model is going to confront organized crime, corruption, and impunity that corrode Paraguay’s democracy. Everyone talks about the differences that exist within the Coalition, but above all there is the spirit of wanting to build something lasting. We must also point to Congress, with a majority to make the changes that we have been promising for decades. In terms of government programs, I try to be different from the others, downplaying the promises of better health, education, infrastructure, and security.
I am not in favor of any constitutional reform no matter how good the intention may be.
One of my ideas is to extend the restrictions that the police and military have not to vote in party elections. This is to avoid prebendarism. I also want to implement it in public officials. With this they are going to cut off the handling of which they are subject. They are the happiest with this proposal.
If they go to internal elections, won’t good candidates for Congress be wasted?
On the one hand, I understand the aspirational issue of each one. I do not want to enter the speculative scenario where I say that I want to be president but I poll legislative places. I know that many candidates speculate. This is to add to democracy and the country. Seek citizen welfare above all.
What results did the first meeting of candidates for president produce?
The spirit of conversation came out. We are not without our differences. What came out is the spirit of underpinning what we have in common and not our differences. That is the democratic spirit. The chartist trolls destroy me with everything but I still stand by my criticism. The Agreement is a valid model because in any case what corrodes us does not allow us to carry out an ideological debate. Organized crime has no ideologies.
How do you take that the ANR is official and opposition at the same time?
The Colorado Party deserves a separate chapter. It must be recognized that the opposition leaves a lot of free field and goal. They amalgamate the role of the ruling party and the opposition. They are handsome and we let them flag themselves with a flag that does not belong to them. I ask you to assume your responsibilities as a political nucleation.
Santiago Peña bases his candidacy on his knowledge to solve economic problems, what do you think?
If Peña thinks he is the great problem solver, why didn’t he do it when he was in power? He started the period of high indebtedness.
I want to know where is the compensation for the US$ 14 billion that Paraguay owes. We are taking out new debt to pay interest. It is not business for Paraguay.
With austerity we can get out of this. Austerity seriously. We are going to add small cuts that together will represent large sums.
What message can you dedicate to citizens?
The Concertación is going to be the government in 2023. In the Executive, yes or if we arrive. Now we must target Congress. That will depend on the involvement of citizens. The Concertación is already scaring our opponents who want to destroy it. We must aim at the well-being of the citizenry.
