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Jorge Adorno / Reuters
Paraguay's ousted President Fernando Lugo holds a news conference outside his home on Sunday.
ASUNCION, Paraguay - Ousted Paraguayan President Fernando Lugo branded the country's new government illegitimate on Sunday and called for democracy to be restored as neighboring countries intensified criticism of his sudden impeachment.
Lugo, a leftist former Roman Catholic bishop, said his removal from office was "a parliamentary coup against the will of the people" and said he would back any peaceful effort to restore democracy in the South American nation.
Congress voted overwhelmingly on Friday to remove Lugo from office, saying he had failed in his duty to maintain social order following a bloody land eviction.
Under the Paraguayan constitution, the impeached president was replaced by Vice President Federico Franco, a vocal critic of Lugo for much of his presidency.
Franco's newly appointed foreign minister urged Lugo to help quell the regional tensions, saying it was his "duty as a Paraguayan citizen and former president."
Paraguay under pressure from neighbors after Lugo is ousted
But Lugo refused to help his successor.
"We support any kind of peaceful effort aimed at restoring institutional order that was interrupted by Parliament," he told reporters.
"This is a fake government. You can't collaborate with a government that doesn't have legitimacy," he said, adding that he would attend a summit of the regional trade bloc Mercosur later this week to explain the situation.
Argentina, which currently holds Mercosur's rotating presidency, said Franco's government would not be allowed to attend the meeting.
'A pariah'
In a region scarred by military coups and political upheaval in the 1970s and 1980s, the rapid nature of Lugo's impeachment by an opposition-controlled Congress has drawn strong criticism -- especially from fellow leftists.
A senior Brazilian official said Paraguay would likely be suspended from the regional UNASUR grouping and from Mercosur, which also includes Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay.
"The point is to make this new government a pariah," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Regional powerhouse Brazil has recalled its top diplomat for consultations and the ambassador is unlikely to return while Franco remains in the presidency, the official added.
Oil shipments halted
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said Lugo's removal as president was illegal, halted oil shipments to Paraguay and withdrew his ambassador from the country. Argentina's Cristina Fernandez pulled top envoy out on Saturday.
"We don't recognize this government. I've ordered the amassador in Asuncion to pack his things and leave," Chavez said in a speech. "We're going to stop sending oil too."
Venezuela's state oil company PDVSA supplies about a quarter of Paraguay's oil needs under a deal that lets countries buy crude on soft financing terms and even pay in farm goods.
Chavez compared Lugo's removal to the 2009 coup that removed Manuel Zelaya in Honduras.
Nations including Canada, Spain and Germany recognized the new government after Lugo said on Friday he would accept the congressional vote to remove him. Others, including Chile and Colombia on Sunday, have summoned ambassadors for a briefing.
Andres Cristaldo / EPA
Federico Franco, center, replaced Fernando Lugo as president.
Lugo has suggested that national and international clamor could lead Paraguayan lawmakers to reverse his impeachment.
Despite the chorus of international criticism, Paraguay's low-key riverside capital was calm on Sunday. Fewer police were patrolling the streets than in recent days and restaurants and businesses were open as usual.
"Lugo was useless but what happened in Congress was a joke -- it was like pigs talking about hygiene," said Benjamin Aguayo, 18, in downtown Asuncion.
A small group of Lugo supporters gathered outside the state TV studios to demonstrate in favor of his return to office.
Lugo's impeachment was sparked by clashes that killed six police and 11 peasant farmers during a recent land eviction. He was one year away from completing his five-year term.
Paternity scandals
Paraguay is one of the poorest countries in South America and Lugo, 61, vowed to improve the quality of life of low-income families when his election ended six decades of rule by the conservative Colorado party.
But he struggled to push reforms, including land redistribution to poor peasant farmers, through Congress. A cancer scare and several paternity scandals dating back to his time as a bishop added to his difficulties.
When his allies from the Liberal Party withdrew support for him on Thursday, they cleared the way for the impeachment trial.
In contrast to Lugo, Franco has solid backing among ranchers and farmers in the world's No. 4 soybean exporter.
"The agricultural industry is going to be a priority, no question about it, because it's vital for Paraguay," said Liberal lawmaker Gustavo Cardozo.
Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Leave a Comment:
Hey, wait a minute....when did we lend our Congress to Paraguay?
They should have learned, by watching the Honduras fiasco. Never leave any loose ends, after removing the President. It always comes back to haunt you..
It sounds like Lugo was pretty much a clown and doesnt have much support in the country, im sure Obama will come to his rescue though, just like he tried to do for the Honduras ex-President..
And Sam - hang it up this is Bush territory - and Daddy Bush still has ties to the CIA - but nice try bringing Obama into this - you never miss a beat to discredit this President do you?
How transparent and totally old and boring - we're on to you go fishing in somebody's pond
Try Bohner - big scandal brewing on how he had secret meetings with Paulson and moved money around - bite your teeth into that one - oh wait he's one of yours - untouchable
Plus Sam You have no clue that the Bush's bought property in Paraguay and Bush Jr sent his daughter on a fake trip to meet with the ousted leader Lugo to ensure that exdridition would be in place?
Pus this happened before Obama took office - how un-enlightened the Republicans really are just another example - maybe Fox News forgot to tell you this
Jeez do you really know what goes on or do you make it up as you go along?
firecracker - perhaps you should start by taking your own advice. DB17 was making a joke.
Clinton's been out even longer, but his name keeps cropping up, too. Funny how that works.
Bush may be out of office, but we're still living with his disasterous legacy and will be for some time to come.
Oh my what ever will the Bush's do if ever - ever - brought to court before the Geneva Convention?
Plus I also read the CIA was there on manuevers whatever that might be
The plot thickens!
Lugos' removal reminds of what Repubs did to Clinton. The circumstances and players involved between Lugos removal and Clintons attempted removal are eerily similar. How ever much I might disagree with how Lugo was removed from office it seems to have been done constitutionally. Trumped up (no pun intended) charges by a wealthy conservative minority political block who happen to hold power in one small legislative branch of the government with the power to constitutionally remove the president from office. The power to impeach regardless of the peoples will to put the president in office. I can hear it now from conservatives - Clinton was impeached for the same reason as Nixon. Yes but Nixon was impeached trying to cover up a criminal act to subvert the democratic process not of getting a blow job from a 24 year old intern. There is a hugh qualitative difference. Sounds the same for Lugo.
I believe the article indicated that Lugos lost the support of his own party - that's a big difference when making a comparison to what happened to Clinton.
Said it before, and say it again...the credentials of an outsted "president" should be his "Death Certificate".
MERCOSUR, UNASUR, CELAC, OAS, and UN countries should make it clear to Paraguay that the removal of Lugo from office was a congressional coup détat, not accepted by the rest of the Americas, or for that matter the rest of the world. Whatever it takes, Lugo should be returned to Paraguay´s presidency to complete his entire term there as ordered by the Paraguayan people when they elected him to that office. Mr. Obama should partake the leadership in this respect, and act accordingly with the rest of the Americas.
You are an idiot ! If the people want socialism, then respect their wish !! Socialism has done good things in countries like Venezuela, the poverty level has gone down but a lot ! So what is so wrong about that ???
The goal of each countries should be to ERADICATE poverty ! With low poverty, crime rate goes down, people are healthier and happier.. So what is damn wrong with this picture ??
You've got your priorities totally wrong because the goal of humanity should be to eradicate poverty and suffering !
capitalism has been so good to the world, hasn't it ???? it is DESTROYING our paradise !!!
Tell us more about the socialist paradise of Venezuela, Barock.
Inflation (only surpassed by Ethiopia and Belarus worldwide)
Murder rate
Kidnapping rate (17,000 in 2008 alone)
Blackouts
Crime Rate (a little difficult to find figures here, since the Venezuelan government stopped publishing crime statistics in 2005)
Supermarket shortages
The relationship between poverty and crime rates is quite a bit more complicated than you imagine.
Barock, as someone who has ACTUALLY lived in Caracas (La Trinidad District), Venezuela. I can assure you, it is the Despot Chavez who has increased unemployment and poverty in Venezuela. When I lived in Venezuela, it had the most free press of ALL of South and Central America, now with Chavez's Despotism there is no longer a free press and their awful prisons are being filled with political prisoners including journalists for doing that standard work.
Kurt, it just goes to show you: wherever there is a jackboot stamping on a human face, there will be a well-heeled Western liberal like barock1957 who will say that, after all, the face has free healthcare and 100% literacy.
Very well said on BOTH your comments Armando. Chavez did win the 1st election in 1998 to stamp out corruption, his solution was to become to being even more corrupt than any Previous Government and rigged any future "election". The people of Venezuela have really suffered from the Castro Despotism wannabe Chavez
Surely the Obama Administration will jump in on this one on the side of the ousted President, since they like leftist governments.
Lugo regrettably was trying to be a mini Mugabe trying to take over productive Ranchers and Farmers in the name of "equality" and "fairness" but in reality trying to replace them with his own non-productive political stooges. Congress may have needed to remove Lugo, in desperation, saving the lands owned by productive ranchers and farmers to avoid hunger like happen in Zimbabwe in 2000 to the present time.
Oh really ?? And what have capitalism has done for you, pal ? We see the wonder of capitalism, today, don't we ??
Uncontrolled capitalism is the same than communism, because the same amount of people suffer !
Barock, I made no mention of "capitalism" nor "communism". You must be very naive thinking they are the same, just ask any Estonian. Life was horrible under the yoke of Communism there, they are much better off today by no longer being under the Communists yoke NOR as Socialists as many Western European countries. Also, Cuba, North Korea and Viet Nam would all be much better off today if they were not colonies of the Communist Occupation Forces if instead they had pro free market governments. So to answer you, Capitalism is Much better for nations combined with a pro freemarket limited Government than being under the yoke of Communist for ALL of us.
Nhan Quyen Cho Viet Nam! Human Rights for Viet Nam!
Barock, your rents would be easier to follow if you learned a little crammer.
I can tell that you have never been in Paraguay or know Paraguayan history. The problems that most of the "campesinos" have does not stem from the rule of the conservative party over the past 30 years but rather the almost 30 years of dictatorship under Stroessner. During Lugo's 4 years in office he seemed to accomplish less for the poor than the conservatives that were traditionally elected by the land owners. Ending his term with a conflict that saw 8 policemen and 11 campesinos being killed.
Hummm I wonder what the family bush think of all that... It would be funny if the new government confiscated the 100 000 acres that bush bought there... Ha that would be a great news !!
You know that Bush owns 100 000 acres with a huge aquifer, there, don't you??? Hey and his plan is to flee there when america will be on fire and to invite a huge army of blackwater mercenaries to protect him and his criminal friends against any attempt of arrest against him... And you know what ?? YOU with your taxes paid to built that private army of right wingnuts.
LOL, Barock, even Blaming Bush for what happens in Paraguay. Oye, Barock, no sabes nada sobre Paraguay, Ojala que sabes mas en the futuro. Taking the easy way, if something, anything goes wrong, just blame Bush instead of trying to correct the wrong on any issue.
The best comment was from Benjamin from Asuncion. ""Lugo was useless but what happened in Congress was a joke -- it was like pigs talking about hygiene," said Benjamin Aguayo, 18, in downtown Asuncion." Lugo was a crook and is only supported by other crooked regimes. His successor however is supported by civilized countries like Canada, Germany and Spain. That should tell the feeble minded something!
I didnt know that Canada , Germany, and Spain were neighboring countries of Paraguay. Furthermore, Germany was quite "civilized" when Hitler took over.Spain was kicked out of this hemisphere for it's colonial practices.The Canadians are so polite, they try to get along with everybody.It sounds like the landed interests are behind the coup, since stealing land from indigenous people is how the landed gentry got to be the landed gentry. It isnt a hand-out to protect the poor from the mighty.I would point out that there are a lot more poor people than rich people anywhere. The rich who ignore this fact, may only realize it's significance when their throats are being cut by raging mobs of poor people. Recall the French revolution.Recall the Russian revolution. Oh I forgot, "revolution" has become a dirty word in the good ol USA.LOL.
This should be a lesson to all elected officials, if you don't perform, like The Donald says: "YOUR FIRED"
Lugo apparently has little to no support, he should fade away gracefully, and if he has any integrity, and really cares about the future of his country, he should help the transitional Government any way he can, to work for the people. The peasants and poor farmers of Paraguay need help, he obviously didn't help them. Now its time to step up for the people, the succesor seems to get it. Good luck to Franco, now, do the right thing!
Right, if the economy goes south the poor are going to be the ones that suffer most.
The US government should keep its nose out of this one. The Parliment of Paraguay has used its constitutional authority to replace the President. We have no right whatsoever to interfere. Let the new guy, Frederico Franco, have a shot. If things get chaotic, or we see genocide or some kind of violence erupt, then "maybe" we can help the people. We need to stay the hell out of other countries bussiness. Enough is enough. The Parguayan military has not acted againt the people, and therefore we should not even call this a coup. This was within the rights of the freely elected government officials to do this.
Its funny how folks want to blame Bush, or Obama for Parguays problems. Those two fools really can't be blamed for everything that happens in the world. The reality is, we can't even clean our own yard. Republicans, Democrats, Liberals, Conservatives, if they are in politics, they all suck!! Wecome to the club Parguay. You get what you voted for, CRAP! Good luck with the new guy...HA!
They followed their constitution. They voted an idiot out of office.
We are getting ready to do the same!
What does Bush or Clinton have to do with this? This is the country of Paraguay. They decided on this. That's
politics for you. It is funny how Bush's name comes up. People are brainwashed by the opposite political
party. Either party would ever give credit to the other party, nor work together.
Man dominating man to his injury. Just another example of wanting to govern and control the people.
And, an example of power struggle and failure.
Man, sounds more like Para-gay down there.
Dude, dude, it's Uruguay you're thinking of.
Throwing Bush, Clinton, Obama or Romney into the mix whatever the article is an attempt by the left or the right to believe by throwing mindless rants or accusations accusing the other side of being responsible for all the worlds ills will somehow sway some independants to vote their guy. As close as it is the debates will decide our next president.