LUGO WINS!

[magbana]

According to the BBC just now, current Prez. Nicanor Duarte, went on TV to promise that there will be a peaceful transfer of power.



Paraguay ex-bishop Fernando Lugo scores historic win

By BILL CORMIER – 15 minutes ago

ASUNCION, Paraguay (AP) — Former Roman Catholic bishop Fernando Lugo won a historic victory in Paraguay's presidential election Sunday, ending more than six decades of one-party rule with a mandate to help the nation's poor and indigenous.

His rival, Blanca Ovelar, conceded defeat after a closely fought race to lead this poor, agrarian nation where Ovelar's Colorado Party is the only ruling party most people have ever known.

News of the win by Lugo, dubbed the "bishop of the poor," set off massive parties in cities across Paraguay with horn-honking caravans of cars blaring music. Others stamped on torn-down banners of the Colorado Party, which many Paraguayans blame for decades of corruption by political elites.

The triumph by Lugo's eclectic opposition alliance also marked the latest in a series of election wins by leftist, or center-left, leaders in South America.

"I invite Paraguayans of all political types, even the ones who don't share our ideals, to help this country that was once great be great again," Lugo told cheering supporters.

"This is the Paraguay that I dream of — of many colors, many faces," he said in reference to his pluralistic coalition, Patriotic Alliance for Change .

Journalism student Andrea Ramirez, 19, waved a Paraguayan flag at the rally. "I voted for the first time and am very happy. The shameless and cynical ones have lost."

With 12,983 of some 14,000 balloting stations counted, officials said Lugo had 41 percent of the vote, Ovelar had 31 percent and former army chief Lino Oviedo had 22 percent. Election officials said that tally accounts for nearly 1.5 million votes — out of a 2.8 million electorate.

Officials said 66 percent of the electorate cast ballots, a record number in a presidnetial election since the 1989 restoration of democracy.

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gAtkI6svsGoIegUVETkVwCJ9QYUgD905V5NG2

http://snipurl.com/253uw

[scarletwoman]

1. I just found out -- I'm SO glad!

Long life to this man -- I wish for him, and all the People of Latin America strong protection.

sw

[Judi Lynn]

2. This is SO important! I agree with scarletwoman, am hoping every moment of his life is going to be

protected from the forces we are so aware would leap at the chance to snuff his light out spectacularly to spread a warning to other leftists who might try to help their ravaged, raped, pillaged countries to heal, and then to progress.

[Judi Lynn]

3. Election tremor: In Paraguay, voters send a message about change

Election tremor: In Paraguay, voters send a message about change
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

The results of Paraguay's elections sent a major shock to the political status quo in the South American country of 7 million.

Sunday's victor was a former Roman Catholic bishop, Fernando Lugo, 56, a somewhat unlikely candidate who had left the church a few years ago because he felt he was able to do little to improve the plight of the poor.

Part of the shock was that Mr. Lugo defeated Blanca Ovelar of the Colorado Party, which had been in power for more than 61 years. If elected, she would have joined the leaders of Argentina and Chile among South America's first female presidents. (Paraguay, with Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay, form South America's burgeoning common market, Mercosur.)

Finishing third was a formerly rebellious military officer, Lino Cesar Oviedo. Paraguay for many years was an archetypical Latin American military dictatorship, headed for 35 years by Gen. Alfred Stroessner. Its military have never been shy about intervening in politics, although Mr. Oviedo quickly acknowledged Mr. Lugo's victory.

Finally, it is generally expected that Mr. Lugo as president will hew a line more independent of the United States than that of his predecessor, Nicanor Duarte Frutos, based on his platform of social reform. His election can thus be considered a setback for U.S.-Paraguay relations, unless the United States is able to shift gears on policy in order to cooperate more effectively with the new government.

More:
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08113/875313-192.stm

[Judi Lynn]

4. Opposition promise support for Paraguay president elect

Sunday, April 27, 2008
Opposition promise support for Paraguay president elect

Paraguay’s President Nicanor Duarte revealed that he had talks with president elect Fernando Lugo “to ensure governance” for the country, and if the incoming administration proposes a constitutional review, he will support it from Congress, according to reports in Asunción Sunday press.

Although not many details were advanced Duarte said that last Friday he met with Lugo and vice president elect Federico Franco and talked about the “necessity to ensure governance for Paraguay”. But he also cautioned that before, agreements must be reached at Congressional level.

None of the three leading forces in Paraguay has a majority in Congress.

“We believe it’s essential the future government has the necessary support to rule, because an atmosphere of instability and political dispute won’t contribute to the development of the country”, said President Duarte who next August 15 after handing the sash to Lugo returns to Congress as a Senator.
(snip)

Meantime the former bishop received strong support from the Catholic Church whose maximum representative in Paraguay called on the faithful “to accept Lugo as president of the Republic, as it has been acknowledged by the Church”, and to help him accomplish his duties.

[Judi Lynn]

5. Paraguay's Lugo taps economy minister

Paraguay's Lugo taps economy minister
1 day ago

ASUNCION, Paraguay (AP) — President-elect Fernando Lugo has tapped an austerity-minded former economy minister fired by his predecessor to return to the post, his running mate said Sunday.

Dionisio Borda was previously economy minister for three years beginning in 2003 until he was forced out, apparently the casualty of a power struggle within current President Nicanor Duarte's ruling Colorado Party.

Lugo's vice-president-in-waiting, Federico Franco, said Borda had accepted a formal offer to fill the position after the new administration takes power Aug. 15.

Franco said Borda was largely responsible for a 6 percent economic growth spurt last year, after his ouster. He is known for running tight budgets.

More:
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gKFwgyOGW11Ic__M0u5FlEvfUpWAD90AE5PG0

:woohoo: