Demonstrations over the government’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic erupted in Paraguay last Friday, leading to intense and violent confrontations between protesters and the police that have thus far led to one death and more than 20 injuries among civilians; 12 police officers have also sustained injuries, with one suffering a knife wound.
Against this tense backdrop, on Saturday, President Mario Abdo Benítez asked all of his Cabinet ministers to resign. Communications Minister Juan Manuel Brunetti confirmed that Benítez had asked “all the members of the cabinet to give up their positions” and sought to quell tensions by saying that the President backs the right to peaceful protests and that the citizens’ “message has reached the president”.
In fact, on Thursday, the Senate tabled a resolution that calls for Health Minister Julio Mazzoleni to be removed from his post. Amidst pressure from lawmakers (even from within the ruling party), health worker unions, and the public, Mazzoleni tendered his resignation to the president on Friday. Following a meeting with the president, he said, “We have agreed together that I leave ... in order to generate that peace that we need to face this challenge.”
Benítez has already removed and replaced the ministers for health, education, women’s affairs, and civil affairs, as well as chief of staff Juan Ernesto Villamayor. He said, “I am sure that the men and women named will do their utmost to confront this moment of crisis that the country is enduring.” The president added, “I am a person of dialogue, not confrontation, and my commitment is to listen to everyone, both those who approve of our government and those who do not.”
Protesters, though, are continuing to demand that Benítez step down from his post or at the very least hold elections. The overarching theme of the protests is centred around corruption within the ruling right-wing government, which citizens allege has embezzled millions of dollars that could have been directed towards dealing with the nation’s public health crisis.
Therefore, the concessions made by the government have done little to satisfy the protesters, who have destroyed shops and set cars on fire. Thus far, eight citizens have been arrested.
Interior Minister Arnaldo Giuzzio lambasted the protesters who had resorted to violence. Meanwhile, additional troops have been mobilised to protect government buildings, including the presidential residence.
Paraguay has recorded around 167,000 COVID-19 cases and more than 3,200 deaths from the virus. In fact, amidst a rapid surge in cases, there is now a shortfall of critical medicines and intensive care unit beds at overcrowded and understaffed hospitals. At this stage, the country has vaccinated less than 0.1% of the population.
Paraguayan Protesters Continue to Demand President’s Resignation Over Handling of Pandemic
Despite ordering his entire Cabinet to resign amidst popular unrest, protesters in Paraguay are continuing to demand President Mario Abdo Benítez’s resignation.
March 9, 2021
IMAGE SOURCE: JORGE SAENZ / ASSOCIATED PRESSProtesters clash with security forces