Asunción, Oct 7 (EFE) .- The president of Paraguay, Mario Abdo Benítez, appointed new commanders of the Military Forces, the Army and the Navy, in the last year of his mandate, which will end in August 2023.
The decision, adopted by Abdo Benítez “in the use of his powers” as President of the Republic and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Nation, was made known this Friday through two separate communications by the General Directorate of Social Communication of the Command of the Military forces.
One of those relieved is the commander of the Navy, Admiral Carlos Velázquez.
The senior officer is the brother of the country’s vice president, Hugo Velázquez, and will be replaced by Vice Admiral Juan Ramón Velázquez Fretes, appointed interim commander of the Navy.
General Óscar Arnaldo Cardozo was appointed as head of the Military Forces, a position previously held by Air Force General Eladio González Aguilar.
For his part, Division General César Augusto Moreno was appointed interim commander of the Paraguayan Army, replacing Cardozo.
The changes reached another 27 officers who occupy different positions in the three forces.
Among the new appointments, Colonel Carlos Bazán Barrios stands out as interim defense attaché at the Embassy of Paraguay in the United States and head of the Paraguayan delegation to the Inter-American Defense Board.
The appointments were made known when Abdo Benítez is visiting Montevideo, where he participates together with his counterpart from Uruguay, Luis Lacalle Pou, in the inauguration of the restored headquarters of the Paraguayan embassy in that country.
Abdo Benítez, who took office in 2018, will end his term in August 2023. EFE.
