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1250 Connecticut Ave. NW, Suite 1C, Washington, D.C. 20036
Phone: 202-223-4975 Fax: 202-223-4979
Email: coha at coha.org Website: www.coha.org
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Council On
Hemispheric Affairs
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Monitoring Political, Economic and
Diplomatic Issues Affecting the Western Hemisphere
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Memorandum to the Press 04.65
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Friday, 24 September, 2004
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Word Count: 1450
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Duarte’s Mixed Message in Paraguay
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• Paraguayan President Nicanor Duarte Frutos has a clear
anti-corruption agenda to which he appears to be adhering.
• U.S. pressure has failed to sway Duarte’s economic policies as Paraguay moves to strengthen its relationship with its Latin
American allies.
• Duarte is a hero to many for having snubbed Otto Reich.
• The President must act resolutely to address the pressing needs of
the campesinos to avoid further unrest in the country and to break the
country’s chain of often unresponsive leadership.
• His handling of a difficult land reform issue stands as the one
blight on Duarte’s otherwise laudable commitment to social reform.
• Duarte’s amazingly high popularity rating – the highest in the Americas – is at risk if he doesn’t affect real land reform in his
country.
• As Duarte is increasingly seen as an entrant into the populist camp,
along with the likely election of a populist president in Uruguay’s October
elections, the U.S. should anticipate very tough negotiations with the
dissident bloc, led by Venezuela, Brazil, and Argentina, regarding the FTAA.
President Nicanor Duarte Frutos of Paraguay has spearheaded an anti-corruption
campaign in his country, at times putting his country’s needs above those of
the U.S.—an unprecedented move for this small landlocked country traditionally
ruled by strongmen guided by dishonest motives. In a exclusive interview with
COHA in New York before heading back to Paraguay, President Duarte revealed his
intentions for his remaining four years as a head of state: “With divine
guidance, we are striving for social, economic and political change— great
changes that will evince a new image for Paraguay.” Duarte reiterated that he would focus on purging the
institutionalized corruption from Paraguay’s political infrastructure by establishing solid social,
economic and political foundations for the future. “We believe strongly in our
cause,” the 47-year-old president told COHA at the Intercontinental Hotel in New York City.
Since assuming office on August 15, 2003,
Duarte has been widely praised for his three-pronged effort to
combat corruption through transparency, public service evaluation and social
responsibility. In his first year, Duarte initiated a number of reforms directed at the country’s
inefficient judicial system. This effort included replacing nine Supreme Court
justices on the basis of merit, rather than for partisan motivations.
TO READ THE ENTIRE TEXT OF THIS PRESS RELEASE, CLICK HERE
This analysis was prepared
by Mike Johnson, COHA Research Associate.
September 24, 2004
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