Less than 20 days before the municipal internal elections scheduled for June 7, the Association of Internal Transport Operators of Paraguay is intensifying pressure on Luque councilors to authorize a bus fare increase to 3,400 guaranis. The request is on the agenda of the Municipal Board session this Wednesday (20) at 9 a.m. and is expected to be reviewed in committees on Thursday.
The transport operators had already requested the adjustment at the end of last year, but the councilors, under pressure from the public, denied authorization, citing that the dilapidated vehicles provided very poor service. Even so, the business owners unilaterally increased the fare from 2,500 to 3,000 guaranis for a few days, including during New Year's, leaving passengers without service to force the councilors' hand.
After the opening of an administrative proceeding requested by Liberal councilor Francisca Franco — who is campaigning for reelection and presented a draft denouncing the poor service — the transport operators backed down and returned to charging 2,500 guaranis. In January, the Municipal Board approved the proceeding through Resolution No. 01/2026. However, less than 20 days before the elections, the councilor fell silent, and the outcome of the proceeding remains unknown.
The drivers' union argues that the increase in fuel makes the current fare unsustainable and that in Asunción and Itá the cost per ticket has already risen to 3,400 guaranis. The internal lines involved are: 1 “Los Campesinitos”, 64 “15 de Mayo SRL”, 61 “San Rafael”, 59 “7 de Octubre SRL”, 10 “Independiente SRL”, 9 “Nueva Asunción SRL”, 8 “San Francisco SRL” and line 5 “Empresa Ciudad de Luque SRL”.
If the councilors yield to the pressure, they may be viewed poorly by the public, especially since out of the 12 councilors, three are running for mayor and seven are seeking reelection. Otherwise, the transport operators threaten to leave the city without transportation on election day.