Politics of Paraguay takes place in a framework of a presidential representative democratic republic. The National Constitution mandates a separation of powers in three branches. Executive power is exercised solely by the President . Legislative power is vested in the two chambers of the National Congress . The Judiciary power is vested on Tribunals and Courts of Civil Law and a nine-member Supreme Court of Justice, all of them independent of the executive and the legislature.
The Economist Intelligence Unit rated Paraguay a "flawed democracy " in 2023.[ 1]
Executive branch
Palacio de los López
The president, popularly elected for one 5-year term with no chance of re-elections, appoints a cabinet. The president nominates the Council of Ministers. The presidential elections of 2008 were won by Fernando Lugo , a Roman Catholic bishop whose ministerial duties have been suspended on his request by the Holy See . It was the first time in 61 years that the Colorado Party lost a presidential election in Paraguay, and only a second time that a leftist will serve as president (first time was in 1936–37) and first time freely elected.
In May 2023, Santiago Peña of the long-ruling Colorado Party, won the presidential election to succeed Mario Abdo as the next President of Paraguay .[ 2] On 15 August 2023, Santiago Peña was sworn in as Paraguay's new president.[ 3]
The workplace of the President of Paraguay is the Palacio de los López , in Asunción . The Presidential Residence is Mburuvichá Roga , also in Asunción.
Once presidents leave office, they are granted by the Constitution the speaking-but-non-voting position of Senator for life .
Office of the First Lady
In Paraguay , the post of the First Lady of Paraguay is official.[citation needed ]
Legislative branch
Congress of Paraguay
The National Congress (Congreso Nacional ) has two chambers . The Chamber of Deputies (Cámara de Diputados ) has 80 members, elected for a five-year term by proportional representation . The Chamber of Senators (Cámara de Senadores ) has 45 members, elected for a five-year term by proportional representation .
Political parties and elections
Latest elections
President
Candidate Party Votes % Mario Abdo Benítez Colorado Party 1,206,067 48.96 Efraín Alegre Great Renewed National Alliance 1,110,464 45.08 Juan Bautista Ybáñez Paraguay Green Party 84,045 3.41 Jaro Anzoátegui National Artists' Movement 15,490 0.63 Atanasio Galeano Popular Patriotic Movement Party 9,908 0.40 Ramón Ernesto Benítez Patriotic Reserve Movement 9,361 0.38 Pedro Almada Broad Front Party 8,590 0.35 Efraín Enríquez National Sovereign Movement 7,291 0.30 Celino Ferreira Movimiento Civico Nacional Unamonos 6,295 0.26 Justo Germán Ortega Heirs Democratic Socialist Party 5,930 0.24 Total 2,463,441 100.00 Valid votes 2,463,441 94.82 Invalid votes 71,924 2.77 Blank votes 62,624 2.41 Total votes 2,597,989 100.00 Registered voters/turnout 4,241,507 61.25 Source: TSJE
Senate
Party Votes % Seats +/– Colorado Party 766,841 32.52 17 –2 Authentic Radical Liberal Party 570,205 24.18 13 0 Guasú Front 279,008 11.83 6 +1 Beloved Fatherland Party 159,625 6.77 3 +3 Hagamos Party 105,375 4.47 2 New Progressive Democratic Party 86,216 3.66 2 –1 National Crusade Movement 58,409 2.48 1 New National Union of Ethical Citizens 49,889 2.12 1 –1 Green Party 37,812 1.60 0 0 We are Paraguay 34,623 1.47 0 New National Encounter Party 30,365 1.29 0 –1 Plurinational Indigenous Political Movement 25,785 1.09 0 New Christian Democratic Party 16,619 0.70 0 New Secure Paraguay 15,005 0.64 0 New Party of the Movement for Socialism 14,773 0.63 0 New Patriotic Reserve Movement 14,397 0.61 0 New Revolutionary Febrerista Party 14,332 0.61 0 0 Kuña Pyrenda Movement 9,795 0.42 0 0 Civic Compromise 9,542 0.40 0 New Concertación Nacional Avancemos País 9,478 0.40 0 New Party of the A 8,934 0.38 0 New All for Paraguay United Movement 7,269 0.31 0 New National Artists' Movement 6,775 0.29 0 New Us 5,948 0.25 0 New Heirs Democratic Socialist Party 5,275 0.22 0 New National Political Sovereignty Movement 5,065 0.21 0 New Movimiento Civico Nacional Unamonos 5,040 0.21 0 New Broad Front Party 3,403 0.14 0 New Union and Equality Political Movement 2,500 0.11 0 New Total 2,358,303 100.00 45 0 Valid votes 2,358,303 91.11 Invalid votes 92,716 3.58 Blank votes 137,277 5.30 Total votes 2,588,296 100.00 Registered voters/turnout 4,241,507 61.02 Source: TSJE
Chamber of Deputies
Party Votes % Seats +/– Colorado Party 927,183 39.10 42 –2 Authentic Radical Liberal Party 420,821 17.74 17 – Great Renewed National Alliance 286,513 12.08 13 – Beloved Fatherland Party 105,765 4.46 3 +2 Hagamos Party 75,601 3.19 2 New National Encounter Party 75,514 3.18 2 0 National Union of Ethical Citizens 65,593 2.77 0 –2 Guasú Front 42,891 1.81 0 –1 Green Party 42,053 1.77 0 0 National Crusade Movement 33,417 1.41 1 New Progressive Democratic Party 27,932 1.18 0 0 Christian Democratic Party 26,783 1.13 0 New Civic Compromise 21,651 0.91 0 New Broad Front Party 20,594 0.87 0 New We are Paraguay 18,060 0.76 0 New Concertación Nacional Avancemos País 16,070 0.68 0 New Revolutionary Febrerista Party 15,169 0.64 0 New National Artists' Movement 11,727 0.49 0 New Youth Party 10,871 0.46 0 0 Us 10,816 0.46 0 New Secure Paraguay 9,651 0.41 0 New Patriotic Reserve Movement 9,648 0.41 0 New Civic Participation Party 9,567 0.40 0 New Party of the A 9,043 0.38 0 New Heirs Democratic Socialist Party 8,832 0.37 0 New Itapua for All Alliance 8,683 0.37 0 New Plurinational Indigenous Political Movement 8,094 0.34 0 New Movimiento Civico Nacional Unamonos 7,241 0.31 0 New Party of the Movement for Socialism 6,207 0.26 0 New All for Paraguay United Movement 5,871 0.25 0 New Ganar Alliance 5,476 0.23 0 – Party of the Patriotic Popular Movement 5,147 0.22 0 New National Political Sovereignty Movement 4,457 0.19 0 New Let's Continue Building Alliance 4,183 0.18 0 New Union and Equality Political Movement 3,775 0.16 0 New Itapuense Front Alliance 3,036 0.13 0 New Concertación por Vos 2,407 0.10 0 New Party of Popular Unity 1,329 0.06 0 New Tekojoja People's Movement 1,046 0.04 0 New Movimiento Politico Civico Nacional Unamonos 949 0.04 0 New All for Ñeembucu 772 0.03 0 New Mbarete Independent Political Movement 595 0.03 0 New Teete Patriotic Front Party 574 0.02 0 New Total 2,371,607 100.00 80 0 Valid votes 2,371,607 91.84 Invalid votes 78,457 3.04 Blank votes 132,296 5.12 Total votes 2,582,360 100.00 Registered voters/turnout 4,241,507 60.88 Source: TSJE
Judicial branch
Supreme Court of Paraguay
Paraguay's highest court is the Supreme Court of Paraguay .
Administrative divisions
The Constitution of Paraguay states "The law will regulate the various areas in which these officials and employees can provide their services, including the judicial, the diplomatic and consular professions, the areas of scientific and technological research, civil services, military and police. This will not preclude others.
" Each of Paraguay's 17 departments is headed by a popularly elected governor. Paraguay is divided in 17 departments (departamentos, singular – departamento) and one capital city; Alto Paraguay , Alto Paraná , Amambay , Asunción (city), Boquerón , Caaguazú , Caazapá , Canindeyú , Central, Concepción , Cordillera , Guairá , Itapúa , Misiones , Ñeembucú , Paraguarí , Presidente Hayes , San Pedro .
See also
References
External links