Politics of Paraguay

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Paraguay

This article is part of the series: Politics and government of Paraguay

President Nicanor Duarte President-elect Fernando Lugo Vice President Francisco Oviedo Vice President-elect Federico Franco National Congress Chamber of Senators Chamber of Deputies Political parties Elections: 2008 Departments Foreign relations

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Politics of Paraguay takes place in a framework of a presidential representative democratic republic, whereby the President of Paraguay is both head of state and head of government, and of a multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the two chambers of the National Congress. The Judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature.

Contents 1 Constitution 2 Executive branch 2.1 Office of the First Lady 3 Legislative branch 4 Political parties and elections 5 Judicial branch 6 Administrative divisions 7 International organization participation

[edit] Constitution

Paraguay's highly centralized government was fundamentally changed by the 1992 constitution, which reinforced a division of powers that in the previous two Constitutions existed mostly on paper.

[edit] Executive branch

Main office holders

Office	Name	Party	Since
President of Paraguay	Nicanor Duarte Frutos	Colorado	15 August 2003
Vice President of Paraguay	Francisco Arcidio Oviedo Brítez	Colorado	October 2007

The president, popularly elected for a 5-year term, appoints a cabinet. The president nominates the Council of Ministers. The presidential elections of 2008 were won on 20 April 2008 by Fernando Lugo, a Roman Catholic bishop whose ministerial duties have been suspended on his request by the Holy See. It's 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.

The workplace of the President of Paraguay is the Palacio de los López, in Asuncion. The Presidential Residence is Mburuvichá Roga House, also in Asuncion.

[edit] Office of the First Lady

In Paraguay, the post of First Lady is official, and thus the Office of the First Lady the Nation of the Republic of Paraguay was created.

According to Paraguayan law, this office depends structurally and financially from the Presidency of the Republic. The office exercises mainly social functions, but also those related to health, through the REPADEH Foundation.

[edit] Legislative branch

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.

[edit] Political parties and elections

e•d 27 April 2003 Paraguay presidential election results

Candidates	Parties	Votes	%
Oscar Nicanor Duarte Frutos	Colorado Party	573,594	38.3
Julio César Ramón Franco Gómez	Authentic Radical Liberal Party	369,963	24.7
Pedro Nicolás Maráa Fadul Niella	Beloved Fatherland Movement	328,449	21.9
Guillermo Sánchez Guffanti	National Union of Ethical Citizens	208,003	14.0
Other		17,263	1.1
Total (turnout 64.2 %)		1,497,272	100
Source: Adam Carr

e•d 27 April 2003 Congress of Paraguay election results

Parties	Deputies			Chamber of Senators
	Votes	%	Seats	%	Seats
National Republican Association/Colorado Party (Asociación Nacional Republicana/Partido Colorado)		35.3	37	32.9	16
Authentic Radical Liberal Party (Partido Liberal Radical Auténtico)		25.7	21	24.3	12
Beloved Fatherland Movement (Movimiento Patria Querida)		15.3	10	15.2	7
National Union of Ethical Citizens (Unión Nacional de Ciudadanos Éticos)		14.7	10	13.7	7
Party for a Country of Solidarity (Partido País Solidario)		3.3	2	4.3	2
National Encounter Party (Partido Encuentro Nacional)		3.1	-	2.0	1
Free Fatherland Party (Partido Patria Libre)		1.1	-	1.0	-
Total (turnout 64 %)			80		45
Source: Paraguay Global

[edit] Judicial branch

Paraguay's highest court is the Paraguayan Supreme Court. The Senate and the president select its nine members on the basis of recommendations from a constitutionally created Magistrates Council.

[edit] Administrative divisions

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.

[edit] International organization participation

CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO

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