The government of Paraguay has removed one of the few opposing voices in the country’s politics, leading to demonstrations in the city of Asunción and raising concerns about the stability of the nation’s democracy.
Senator Kattya González, a member of the National Meeting Party from the center-left, was removed from her position during a special session on Wednesday for abusing her power while in office.
The senator, who is 46 years old and was elected in 2023, is one of the few opposition politicians in Paraguay who lean towards the left. They have spoken out against the rampant corruption and have also raised concerns about the growing influence of organized crime in their country.
The senators who supported her removal accused González of committing administrative wrongdoing in regards to three state employees under her supervision. Senator Dionisio Amarilla, a member of the ruling party, stated that the evidence against her is strong and indisputable.
González did not promptly reply to a comment request from Reuters.
After winning the elections in April of last year, Paraguay’s conservative Colorado party now holds the majority in both chambers of congress, controls the presidency, and governs 15 out of 17 state governments.
The Colorado party, which has held power for 75 years, is facing criticism for allegedly attempting to suppress opposing views by unfairly dismissing González.
González expressed concern for Paraguay’s well-being during her speech to the senate. She emphasized the detrimental effects of organized crime on our democracy and urged us to shift our focus to the current state of our republic. Outside the legislative building in Asunción, a small group of demonstrators showed their support for her message.
The demonstrators expressed concern that her removal marked a regression to Paraguay’s history of dictatorship. A group of individuals holding signs repeated the phrase: “Never again dictatorship!”
In the 2023 senatorial election, González ranked fourth in terms of votes and gained public approval for boldly confronting legislators accused of misconduct. Her deputy, a less prominent opposition member, will take her place.
González initiated a hunger strike on Saturday to express her opposition to President Santiago Peña and his Colorado government’s efforts to push for constitutional amendments that would permit presidential re-election.
Source: theguardian.com
