Resource Guide: Paraguay’s Presidential Impeachment

Domestic Reactions

• Lugo called the impeachment an “express coup d’etat.”
• Miguel Lopez Perito, the secretary general of the presidency, said the impeachment “was clearly a setup.”
• Paraguay’s armed forces issued a statement promising to respect the constitution.
• During his resignation, Lugo said Paraguay's democracy was "deeply wounded" by the impeachment.
• At a press conference on Saturday, Franco defended the transition, saying "there is no coup nor institutional breakdown."
• Franco said he assumed the presidency after the impeachment to avoid "civil war."
• On June 25, Lugo created and met with a "parallel cabinet." He hopes to attend the upcoming Mercosur summit on June 29. "I want to resist until we regain power because here there was a parliamentary coup," he told the press.
• Later, Lugo announced he would not attend the Mercosur summit, saying he didn't "want the other presidents to feel pressured.

International Reactions

• A delegation of foreign ministers from the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) traveled to Paraguay on Friday to assess the situation, since UNASUR considers the impeachment “a camouflaged coup.”
• Presidents of UNASUR countries met in Rio de Janeiro during the Rio+20 summit on June 21 to discuss the Paraguay crisis. An UNASUR statement said the leaders expect stability and respect for the democratic order to be preserved in Paraguay.
• The Organization of American States (OAS) issued two statements urging “respect for due process” and the “safeguarding of dialogue” in Paraguay.
• The OAS also held a special meeting of the permanent council on June 22 to discuss the crisis.
• On June 22, representatives from UNASUR, the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR), and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) said Paraguay could be expelled from their organizations should Lugo be impeached.
• UNASUR Secretary-General Alí Rodríguez Araque classified the impeachment as a "parliamentary coup d'etat" and said that Congress had violated Lugo's "legitimate right to a defense." He said that heads of state at next week's Mercosur meeting will discuss possible measures to take against Paraguay as a result of the impeachment.
• On Sunday, Mercosur announced that Paraguay would be suspended from the regional bloc's presidential summit in Argentina on June 29. Paraguay was also suspended from Mercosur preparatory meetings that begin June 25.
• During Mercosur's presidential summit on June 29, the regional bloc agreed to suspend Paraguay as a member until presidential elections are held in April 2013. However, Paraguay will not face economic sanctions from Mercosur.
• UNASUR voted to suspend Paraguay from the regional bloc until elections are held next year. The decision took place at a June 29 heads of state meeting in Argentina.

Foreign Governments’ Reactions

• A U.S. State Department spokeswoman said that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is "worried" about Paraguay and hopes the impeachment process will follow Paraguay's constitution.
• State Department spokesperson William Ostick said that it is important that Paraguay's government institutions "serve the interests" of the people and called for due process.
• Mexico's Secretary of Foreign Affairs issued a statement to say the government would monitor the situation in Paraguay and supports a legal process there. Following the impeachment, the government released another statement urging dialogue and the importance of guaranteeing Lugo's physical safety. Mexico's ambassador in Paraguay was recalled on Sunday for consultations in Mexico City.
• Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff called for the maintenance of "democratic order" and said UNASUR could help reach a "negotiated solution." Following the impeachment, Rousseff said that based on its democracy clause, UNASUR could move to expel Paraguay, but did not say if this would occur. On Saturday, Brazil's Ministry of Foreign Relations released a statement saying the government condemns Paraguay's impeachment, which "compromised the fundamental pillar of democracy, a condition essential for regional integration." The statement also said Paraguay could face sanctions from Mercosur and Unasur.
• Brazil, along with Uruguay, called their ambassadors in Paraguay back to Brasilia and Montevideo, respectively, for consultations on the impeachment.
• Colombia's President Juan Manuel Santos said that although he was sorry to see how Lugo's "removal" took place, he believed that "there was no formal break with democracy" because Paraguay's Congress followed the law. However, he expressed concern with the situation, saying that "legal procedures shouldn't be used to abuse" and that Colombia wishes to help Paraguay maintain democracy and stability. On June 24, Colombia's ambassador in Paraguay was recalled for consultations.
• Canada's Minister of State of Foreign Affairs Americas and Consular Affairs for the Americas released a statement on June 23 saying that the Canadian government "noted" that Lugo accepted the impeachment and that the new president had been sworn in. The minister also said respect for democracy in the region must be protected.
• Chile's President Sebastián Piñera asked Paraguay to respect due process and the Constitution. After the impeachment, Pinera said that while Paraguay had followed a constitutional procedure, it had not respected due process nor the right to defense. On June 24, Chile recalled its ambassador in Paraguay for consultations.
• OAS Representatives from Bolivia, Nicaragua, and Venezuela denounced the Paraguay situation as a potential coup.
• Ecuador's President Rafael Correa said the impeachment in Paraguay “is absolutely illegitimate” and supported UNASUR’s move to monitor the situation. Correa also said UNASUR could sever ties and close borders to Paraguay if due process does not occur. Following the impeachment, Correa said Ecuador would not recognize the new president. On June 24, Ecuador recalled its ambassador in Paraguay. Correa said he's in favor of neighboring countries closing their borders to Paraguay and supports sanctions.
• On Saturday, Spain's government issued a statement saying it would monitor the situation in Paraguay and defends respect for democracy.
• Russia’s foreign affairs minister expressed “concern” and said Russia trusts Paraguayan institutions to respect its own constitution and laws.
• Bolivia's President Evo Morales said there was a coup beginning in Paraguay and that the Paraguayan opposition “interrupted the political process.” Following the impeachment, Morales said he would not recognize the new goverment and called the political crisis a "congressional coup."
• Venezuela's President Hugo Chávez said his government would not recognize Franco, calling the impeachment process "shameful" and the new presidency "illegal." On Sunday, Chávez recalled the Venezuelan ambassador in Asunción and halted oil shipments to Paraguay.
• Peru's Vice President Marisol Espinosa questioned the responsibility of Paraguay's political parties to defend the Constitution, and said the impeachment was a "blow to democracy" in Latin America. President Ollanta Humala categorized the impeachment as "unfortunate" and said it was a risk to democracy. On June 24, Peru recalled its ambassador in Paraguay for consultations.
• Costa Rica's Chancellor Enrique Castillo said the impeachment had the "hallmarks of a coup" and announced that Costa Rica would offer Lugo asylum.
• Dominican President Leonel Fernández condemned what he called the "illegal and anti-democratic" impeachment in Paraguay, and urged the OAS to call an emergency meeting of heads of state in order to suspend Paraguay from regional multilateral organizations. The Dominican ambassador in Paraguay was recalled for consultations on Sunday.
• The president of El Salvador's parliament lamented Lugo's "sudden" impeachment and said the process damaged Paraguay's "democratic order." El Salvador's government will not recognize Paraguay's new president.

See AS/COA coverage of the Paraguayan impeachment.