Asociación Nacional Republicana

The attorney for the Colorado Añetete movement, Cecilia Pérez, stated that the supposed audit of the voting machines was actually just a technical presentation, and that the Cartismo faction itself acknowledges flaws by supporting new audits.

The Honor Colorado movement, led by pre-candidate for mayor of Asunción, Camilo Pérez, rejected the request for an audit of voting machines made by Senator Lilian Samaniego and her brother Arnaldo, classifying the demand as an attempt to destabilize the electoral process three weeks before the Colorado internal elections.

The president of the Paraguayan Congress, Basilio “Bachi” Núñez, announced he will present an electoral reform bill to allow each voter to vote for up to two candidates from the same party list, expanding the current system of open closed lists. The proposal will first be debated in the Governing Board of the Colorado Party.

The ANR Party Electoral Court confirmed that 2,804,546 voters are eligible for the June 7 municipal primaries, with 479 polling stations in 263 districts. The election will feature 16,848 pre-candidates competing for 5,921 municipal positions.

A protest poster was installed in Asunción calling for the removal of Social Security Institute (IPS) councilor José Emilio Argaña after he requested paid leave from June 8 to 22, a period that coincides with the World Cup. The action occurs amid criticism over the state of public health and the use of the agency's resources.

A protest sign was installed in Asunción demanding the resignation of José Emilio Argaña, an IPS advisor, after he requested full paid leave during the World Cup period, sparking public outrage.

The president of Paraguay's Congress, Basilio 'Bachi' Núñez, stated that the country should adopt runoff voting and presidential reelection, advocating for a constitutional reform. He also proposed a 'double unblocking' system for electoral lists and criticized calls for a new audit of voting machines.

The Honor Colorado movement of the Colorado Party rejected the request to suspend the electoral schedule for internal party elections scheduled for June 7, 2026, defending the transparency of the voting machine system. Deputy Rodrigo Gamarra also defended the system, classifying suspicions of fraud as unfounded.

President Santiago Peña and Vice President Pedro Alliana have asked Horacio Cartes to consider a new candidacy for the presidency of the Colorado Party in 2028, according to the general agent of the ANR, Eduardo González Báez. The request was made during a meeting of the Honor Colorado Command at the former president's residence.

Deputy José Rodríguez (ANR, HC) stated he fully trusts the Superior Electoral Justice Tribunal (TSJE) and denied that dissident Colorados were prevented from auditing the voting machines, despite the Colorado Party's own Electoral Party Tribunal (TEP) having acknowledged the issue and requested measures to resolve the doubts.

The Asunción City Hall closed a section of Presbítero Justo Román Street for 45 days for storm drainage works in the Santo Domingo basin. The measure further isolates the Manorá and Santo Domingo neighborhoods, which already suffer from traffic collapse. The work, promised by former mayor Óscar Rodríguez with funds from G8 bonds, is delayed and marked by allegations of fund diversion.

Hernán Adolar Schlender, former mayor of Jesús de Tavarangüé (ANR), has been a fugitive since October 2025, accused of using Fonacide funds to launder drug trafficking money. Former accountant Zenón Cáceres Duarte was sentenced to four years in prison, with the sentence confirmed in March. The estimated loss to the municipality is G. 7.418 billion.

Candidate for councilman on List 2P – Option 10 of the ANR, Cristhian Samaniego advocates for oversight of public funds and support for Camilo Pérez's administration in the Municipal Board.

Rossana Edith Gómez Ortiga, pre-candidate for mayor of Villa Elisa on the Colorado Party's List 2A, has been reported for alleged domestic violence. The case is being processed in the local Peace Court and has generated political repercussions.

Liberal deputy Freddy Franco defended his bill establishing the 'National Day of Vori Vori' and harshly criticized Senator Dionisio Amarilla, accusing him of being two-faced due to his closeness to the Colorado government. Franco suggested the debate over the typical dish was used to divert attention from the scandal involving former Senator Hernán Rivas's fake diplomas.

Presidential pre-candidate Arnoldo Wiens, from the Colorado Añetete movement, attacked sectors of cartismo during a rally in Villarrica, accusing them of remaining "bolted to power" and using public office for personal gain. He also questioned the government's economic management and recalled the narrative of the "true colorados," amid the internal dispute of the ANR.

Paraguay's Minister of Interior, Enrique Riera, denied rumors that he would return to the Senate, stating that President Santiago Peña asked him to remain in office. Riera also commented on the upcoming internal municipal elections and the ministry's stance of party neutrality.

Senate President Basilio 'Bachi' Núñez rebutted criticism from dissidents of the ANR and PLRA regarding the reliability of the electronic voting system, calling it an attempt to 'open the umbrella' in the face of a possible defeat. He defended the TSJE and announced a bill to allow voters to choose up to two candidates within the same list (double unlocking).

TSJE Minister Jorge Bogarín González stated there is a campaign of hatred and discredit against the voting machines, which have been used in previous elections without issues. The opposition and dissident Colorados request an audit, but the TSJE says it has already been carried out.

The chief of staff of the ANR, Eduardo González, stated that Senator Lilian Samaniego requested the postponement of the Colorado Party's internal elections, but she denies the accusation and demands an audit of the voting machines. The TEP guarantees that the audit will be carried out without altering the calendar.

Deputy Luis “Tiki” González Vaesken, of the dissident Colorado movement Añeteté, defended the need to strengthen oversight systems at polling stations for the upcoming elections, amid doubts about the reliability of voting machines supplied by the Comitia-MSA Consortium, which had previously been disqualified in an earlier tender.

The president of the Paraguayan Congress, Basilio "Bachi" Núñez, defended the reliability of electronic voting machines and opened the door for an audit of academic degrees and employee bonuses, amid criticism from the opposition.

Amid the geopolitical dispute between China, Taiwan, and the United States, Paraguay has become a stage for intense diplomatic and economic pressure. Businesspeople, legislators, and political sectors push for a potential shift in relations toward Beijing, while Taiwan tries to maintain the historic alliance.

Appeals Court confirms rejection of former senator Erico Galeano's appeal, sentenced to 13 years for money laundering and criminal association. With the decision, the Sentencing Court may schedule a hearing to decide on preventive detention.

Congress President Basilio Núñez responded to Senator Lilian Samaniego's criticism regarding the audit of electronic voting machines, stating that the process was carried out according to schedule and that the opposition had the opportunity to participate. Núñez also recalled that Samaniego, when she chaired the ANR, appointed people she trusted, and defended confidence in the TSJE.

Amid complaints from pre-candidates for councilor about alleged parallel cash funds at Mercado 4 and the Asunción Bus Station, the market director, Alejandro Buzó, classified the accusations as 'urban legends' and stated that revenue collection is completely transparent. He challenged the whistleblowers to present concrete evidence.

Colorado senator Derlis Maidana calls on the political class to support the Electoral Justice and not to sow distrust in the voting machines for party primaries.

Senator Derlis Maidana (Honor Colorado) called on the political class to support institutions and downplayed the delay in the technical audit of voting machines, while dissident Senator Lilian Samaniego (Causa Republicana) denounced failures in the schedule and lack of transparency.

Asunción's microcenter faces a road crisis with destroyed manholes, disintegrated asphalt, and stagnant water, while the city hall spent US$ 18.2 million on pothole patching in 2025 with no visible results. The administration of Mayor Luis Bello (ANR-HC) is criticized for inheriting the model of predecessor Óscar “Nenecho” Rodríguez, who diverted G. 512 billion from bonds to current expenses.

ANR proxy Eduardo González responded to Senator Lilian Samaniego that the audit of voting machines has already been carried out at the TSJE for all parties. Meanwhile, the National Congress, under the leadership of Basilio Núñez, begins an internal audit of university diplomas of employees, an initiative of Senator Eduardo Nakayama.

The president of the Superior Electoral Justice Tribunal (TSJE), Jorge Bogarín, stated that criticism of the voting machines aims to discredit the Paraguayan electoral system, weeks before the simultaneous internal party elections on June 7. Bogarín defended the transparency of the mechanism, implemented since 2021, and attributed the questions to an intention to weaken the model established by Law 6318/2019. Colorado senator Lilian Samaniego reiterated the request for an audit of the machines to the ANR.

The Comptroller General of the Republic is studying legal measures to impose fines and sanctions on former public officials who leave office without updating their sworn declaration of assets, a practice that hinders the detection of illicit enrichment. Currently, the law only requires the submission of the document for salary payment, but does not provide for punishment for those leaving public service.

The department of Ñeembucú, a stronghold of Vice President Pedro Alliana, remains immune to information requests, with the government bench and Deputy Fabiana Souto, Alliana's wife, systematically rejecting the requests. Opposition member Diosnel Aguilera denounces the existence of a 'chain of command' to block transparency.

Pre-candidates for councilor of the Municipal Board of Asunción denounce the existence of an irregular collection system in municipal markets and the Bus Station, which allegedly diverts funds for electoral campaigns. Ever Escalante, from the Colorado Añetete movement, claims that only in Market 4 around 100 million guaranis would be collected per day.

Senator Lilian Samaniego, from the Causa Republicana movement, publicly asked the president of the Colorado Party, Horacio Cartes, and the president of the Party Electoral Tribunal, Santiago Brizuela, to carry out the audit of the voting machines before the internal elections on June 7, arguing that the procedure, scheduled for February, was not fulfilled and is essential to guarantee transparency and equal opportunities.

The pre-presidential candidate of the Colorado Añetete movement, Arnoldo Wiens, ended his campaign in Villarrica with harsh criticism of leaders and public employees who, according to him, remain 'bolted' to their positions to defend private interests. Wiens also questioned the resistance of IPS board members to reforms proposed by the institution's new president, Isaías Fretes, and highlighted the rising cost of living affecting the population.

Senator Lilian Samaniego, leader of the Causa Republicana movement, demands an audit of the voting machines for the Colorado Party primaries, scheduled for June 7. The Honor Colorado movement, led by former President Horacio Cartes, supports a potential audit but considers the request untimely and rejects postponing the electoral schedule.

President Santiago Peña called for judicial cases involving legislators to be treated with the same criteria, regardless of party, while commenting on the situations of former senators Erico Galeano and Hernán Rivas. He also supported the work of ANEAES in reviewing university degrees.

Saturday night, a man identified as the security guard of Colorado deputy Esteban Samaniego (ANR-HC) was involved in a fight with a driver in Quyquyhó, Paraguarí. The deputy himself tried to calm the situation, but none of those involved have filed a complaint so far.

Colorado deputy Esteban Samaniego is again at the center of a violent episode. On Saturday night, his bodyguard assaulted a man after a minor collision in Quyquyhó. As of Sunday noon, no formal complaint had been filed, but local police drafted a memo about the fight.

Minister Juan Carlos Baruja and Chamber President Raúl Latorre intensify their campaigns in the Paraguayan interior, aiming to be Pedro Alliana's running mate in the 2028 elections. Baruja is said to have the supposed support of Horacio Cartes, while Latorre seeks alliances with governors. The dispute unfolds amid the municipal internal elections on June 7.

Starting tomorrow, Calle Presbítero Justo Román, between Avenida Roa Bastos and Comandante Luis González, will be closed for 45 days for storm drainage works in the Cuenca Santo Domingo. Residents and merchants denounce chaos and neglect, with open sewers and poor asphalt.

The former mayor of San Pedro de Ycuamandyyú, Gustavo Rodríguez (ANR-HC), and nine other individuals return to court this Monday for the second day of oral trial for alleged breach of trust. The case involves the embezzlement of G. 2.269 million during his administration (2021-2022).

Dissident Colorado deputy Roberto González (ANR-Añeteté) accused fellow Cartists, their satellites, and liberals functional to HC of preventing interventions in municipalities with mayors suspected of corruption, degrading the image of the National Congress. He cited the case of former senator Hernán Rivas, who reached the presidency of the Jurado de Enjuiciamiento de Magistrados with a fake degree, and other mayors who have been prosecuted or convicted.

Senator Esperanza Martínez denounces resistance from the ruling party to the creation of a special commission to investigate up to 2,500 suspected university degrees, following the scandal of former senator Hernán Rivas that exposed a possible fraud network that may have benefited public office holders, including within the justice system.

President Santiago Peña visited the restoration works of Avelino Martínez Avenue in San Lorenzo alongside Mayor Felipe Salomón and Senator Óscar Salomón, a gesture of political backing during the electoral pre-campaign. The project, executed by EDB Construções, had a final cost of G. 242.7 billion, with an overrun of G. 87.6 billion, justified by the Ministry of Public Works as price updates and work complexity. The visit occurs amid a strong internal dispute in the ANR, where Salomón seeks reelection against Édgar López, supported by Horacio Cartes. Engineer Enrique Díaz Benza, owner of the construction company, suggested renaming the avenue to General Andrés Rodríguez, but Peña said the decision lies with the population.

President Santiago Peña stated that Horacio Cartes will be the ANR presidential candidate in 2027, highlighting his recovery and energy. Peña asked Cartes to continue leading the party, calling him fundamental support of the government.

President Santiago Peña, during an event in San Lorenzo, asked the media to treat corruption cases involving opposition members and those of fellow Colorado Party members, such as Erico Galeano and Hernán Rivas, with the same rigor. Peña avoided detailing the proceedings and highlighted the role of ANEAES in controlling university degrees.

Arnaldo Aveiro Solís, brother of Senator Guadalupe Aveiro (ANR), was appointed to Itaipu Binacional in April 2026, receiving a monthly salary of G. 21 million, despite not having a university degree. Previously, he worked as a receptionist in the Chamber of Deputies, where he already earned G. 16.35 million. The appointment occurred one month after the senator took office, replacing the convicted Erico Galeano.

President Santiago Peña acknowledged knowing Juan Roberto 'Jimmy' Villaverde, identified as an operator of a network of pages that attack journalists and opponents, but denied that he works for the government or has an office at Mburuvicha Róga. Public records show Villaverde managed Peña and Alliana's social media during the campaign and held public positions.

The pre-campaign for municipal elections in San Lorenzo, Paraguay, is marked by an intense internal dispute within the Colorado Party, with two groups from the Honor Colorado movement running for mayor. On one side, current mayor Felipe Salomão seeks reelection; on the other, Édgar López, president of Seccional N°2, tries to consolidate his candidacy with strong financial investment and support from political figures such as Horacio Cartes and Hugo Velázquez. The liberal opposition is also mobilizing, with articulations among different forces to define a single candidacy.

The president of the Paraguayan Congress, Basilio "Bachi" Núñez, expressed support for opposition Senator Eduardo Nakayama's proposal to audit all public employees who obtained benefits with suspected university degrees. The initiative follows scandals involving former Colorado Party senators Hernán Rivas and Erico Galeano, and aims to combat corruption and influence peddling in the public sector.