In a ceremony to inaugurate a paved stretch of highway in Philadelphia, department of Boquerón, Abdo Benítez affirmed that he will be president of the Colorado Party. The statement was made within the framework of a speech in which he praised Luis Pettengill.
Thus, far from focusing the remaining year that Abdo Benítez has left on his role as president of the Republic, attending to the needs of the country, he prefers to focus all his efforts and priorities on becoming the head of his party.
Within the point, Dr. Pilar Callizo, lawyer and political analyst, determined that both the Vice President and the President of the Republic have set aside their functions to focus on roles totally unrelated to the one for which they were elected; the first has already been doing it for a long time, while the second joins the practice with this new notice.
Dr. Pilar Callizo
“Article 237 of the National Constitution specifically speaks of the incompatibilities of the President or Vice President to hold positions, whether public or private, while they are in office. It clarifies that he must dedicate himself exclusively to his functions, so both are openly violating the Constitution, ”said Dr. Callizo.
In this regard, for the analyst, both Abdo Benítez and Velázquez are constantly challenging the Paraguayan community, driven by the ambition for power, without setting limits such as respect for their functions. For the lawyer, this ultimately permeates the other institutions, affecting the Republic.
“The President will divert attention from the pressing and very serious problems of the country. When one is at the head of the administration of the nation, in breach of the Constitution, he is obviously in open opposition to what is expected of a maximum authority, ”he said.
BACKGROUND
Dr. Callizo recalled that this already happened with Nicanor Duarte Frutos, former president of the Republic, who, having observed the incompatibility as president and head of the ANR, carried out his candidacy anyway, even occupying the position. For the analyst, this remained in total impunity because it constituted a crime of such magnitude that it merited a political trial.
“This is dangerous due to the precedent, returning to incur contempt for the Constitution; the seriousness of what the position of the Presidency has is lost, when the president has to set the example, ”he declared.
Another edge analyzed by the specialist is the use of state assets and resources for this type of campaign carried out, since the president is receiving remuneration to perform a specific and exclusive function. However, he uses the time when they should be administering and managing social, institutional and political problems, to embark on these types of campaigns.
“In a country with pressing social problems and low budgets in education and health, it turns out that the representatives of the State should be worrying that their administrations and ministries fulfill their day-to-day obligations,” he confirmed.
Finally, Dr. Callizo assured that Abdo Benítez thus fulfills an unfortunate role, personally taking care that people lose respect for him. In this regard, she added that the presidents of the country do not come out with any type of legitimacy, a case that is repeated with Abdo Benítez, but this time with a legitimacy that barely reaches 20% of the population, according to the lawyer.
“At some point these characters, who permanently challenge civility, will have to be held accountable because this cannot last. It is permanently touching the ear of the population, to see how long their patience lasts. With these types of actions, the democratic process is destroyed,” he concluded.
