Paraguay: Situation and Perspectives of the Political Juncture

Paraguay is characterized by high inequality in income distribution and a very high

 concentration of land. According to UNDP data from 2008 the richer 10% have 31 times 

more income than any person in the 10% lower stratum. These contrasts are based on a

 series of conflicts and generate a sense of relative deprivation, injustice and power abuse

 among the underprivileged

This social economic matrix is expressed in a strongly fragmented society, with weak 

articulation in its social movements and a structured political system around traditional

 parties which represent the interest of soy growers and ranchers, putting the people to 

one side. These political parties tend to be associated to extensive corruption practices

, patronage and power abuse. 

Paraguayan history for the last 61 years until August 2008 was managed by a single party,

 the Partido Colorado, which historically managed to control the State in all its organizations 

and institutions. This cycle that implied the uninterrupted permanence in power of a single

political party for more than half a century, has been broken by a major demand for change,

 expressed in the April 2008 elections, and by the swearing-in of President Fernando Lugo 

in August of that same year.

This means a democratic change with alternation that leaves major challenges for the new

 government. At the end of the first year of Fernando Lugo’s term, the majority of leaderships

 consulted agreed that Lugo has the genuine will to introduce change and improve

 Paraguayan living conditions, but many express doubts about this affirmation becoming

 reality. Paraguayan elites agreed that a year in office has not been enough to make a 

significant change in the country’s situation.  

Citizen’s voices:  12 focal groups of citizens of different social economic level, 

age and political affinity carried on Asunción on Mayo/June 2009.

Leadership voices: 24 profound interviews between the principal political

 entrepreneurial and social  actors from the country, carried on December  2008