Doubts about Paraguay's Election

Needler, Martin C., Contemporary Review

PARAGUAY is an unusual country in several ways. The Spaniards drifted in, rather than riding in as conquerors. They intermarried thoroughly with the indigenous Guarani, so that today there are very few pure-bred Indians; the great majority of Paraguayans are mestizo and speak both Spanish and Guarani. And for a country of its intermediate stage of development, there is a lot of money in Paraguay, quite widely distributed. Without import duties, Paraguay is reputedly the largest importer of American cigarettes and Scotch whiskey, which melt profitably across the endless borders with Argentina and Brazil.

The political system also has its unusual features, dominated by a more than century-old two-party system in which the original ideological and sectoral identities of the parties have disappeared under the accretion of characteristics bestowed by critical historical junctures. The Colorados (Reds', though technically the National Republican Alliance) are the long-time governing party, thus associated with dictatorial practice, money corruption, electoral fraud, and military power and privilege. Because Liberal army officers once participated in an unsuccessful revolt, officers were until three years ago required to be members of the Colorado party. The Liberals are defined by their opposition to the Colorado party, and thus to all things that party represents.

Over the last two years an alliance called Encuentro …

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Publication information: Article title: Doubts about Paraguay's Election. Contributors: Needler, Martin C. - Author. Magazine title: Contemporary Review. Volume: 263. Issue: 1532 Publication date: September 1993. Page number: 146+. © 1999 Contemporary Review Company Ltd. COPYRIGHT 1993 Gale Group.

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