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.
Lilian Samaniego
Dirigente del PLRA.
Deputy Lilian Samaniego (PLRA) denied assaulting anyone during an incident in Quyquyhó, stating that he returned to the scene to calm a fight after being informed that one of his aides was being attacked. Videos of the incident circulated on social media, but so far no formal complaints have been filed.
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.
Senator Derlis Maidana (Colorado Party) came to the defense of the Superior Court of Electoral Justice (TSJE) amid questions about the reliability of voting machines. He classified allegations of fraud in past elections as "absolutely unfounded" but supported the carrying out of audits on the system.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
A violent incident in Quyquyhó, Paraguay, left a man shot and with facial injuries, allegedly involving the bodyguard of Deputy Esteban Martín Samaniego. The victim filed a complaint in Quiindy, citing distrust of the local police. Witnesses claim the deputy himself assaulted a cameraman.
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.
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.
Three pre-candidates for councilor in the Paraguayan capital denounced the existence of parallel cash collection systems in Markets 4 and Abasto, as well as at the Asunción Bus Station, with daily collections allegedly reaching 100 million guaranis. They claim the scheme has been operating for over eight years and involves municipal employees and outsiders.
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.
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.
Gianina García Troche, partner of alleged drug trafficker Sebastián Marset, requested house arrest during a statement in the framework of Operation A Ultranza Paraguay, which investigates money laundering from drug trafficking. The request will be analyzed by Judge Rosarito Montanía.
Leaders of indigenous communities in the departments of San Pedro, Caaguazú, and Canindeyú are organizing an indefinite protest to demand greater assistance from the Paraguayan Institute for Indigenous Affairs (Indi) and other institutions. The measure may include intermittent road blockades.
Gianina García Troche, partner of Sebastián Marset, asked prosecutor Deny Yoon Pak for the benefit of house arrest, citing the need to be close to her children. The request was made during her indictment hearing on May 12, and the prosecutor said he will consult Judge Rosarito Montanía.