His resignation from the position of its vice president Paraguaybut also his withdrawal from the internal party race in view of the presidential elections of 2023 and the political life of the country in general will be submitted by Ugo Velasquez, who is accused by the USA for corruption.
In a press release released by his services, the US Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, accused Mr. Velasquez and a close associate, a former prosecutor, of “engaging in significant corruption, including bribing a public official and interfering with public proceedings.”
The State Department statement accused Juan Carlos Duarte, the former prosecutor, of bribing a Paraguayan public official to “obstruct an investigation linked to the vice president’s financial interests.” The amount, at the suggestion of the person concerned, Vice President Velazquez, exceeded one million dollars, said the US ambassador to Paraguay, Mark Osfield.
The US sanctions against Mr. Velázquez and Mr. Duarte include the ban on entry of themselves and their relatives into the US territoryincluding.
Yesterday morning in Asuncion, Mr. Velasquez, vice president since 2018, member of the Colorado party (right), which has had a hegemonic role for decades in the Paraguayan political scene, denied his innocence and assured that he has a “clear conscience”.
He emphasized that wants to defend himself “as an ordinary citizen” and that for this reason he will submit his resignation from the presidency next week, so as not to damage the image of President Mario Abdo Benitez.
“My decision to retire is to avoid damaging the environment of the president of the Republic or the Colorado party”Mr. Velasquez explained to radio station Monumental 1080 AM.
He also mentioned that will drop out of the race to nominate Colorado’s candidate in the April 2023 presidential election. The caucus is held in December for one of Colorado’s streams. “If I stay, I will harm the party”the 54-year-old vice president explained.
“Fight against corruption”
Mr. Velasquez, formerly the president of the lower house of Paraguay, was a candidate for the 50th Mario Abdo Benitez, who prevailed in the internal party process and then in the 2018.
Yesterday, he spoke of his retirement from political life. “This was the last stop of my career (s.p.: the race for the presidential elections). Since it is not possible, what should we do? The counsels of the Lord are unknown,” he added.
President Abdo Benitez praised the “maturity” of his vice president, who by resigning protected “the credibility of our country,” as “continuing to be vice president would be unacceptable in these circumstances,” as he told reporters in Major Otanio (South). “I say this with pain because he is a friend,” he added.
In its statement, the State Department accused Mr. Duarte of breach of trust while he was a legal adviser to the hydroelectric plant in Jacitera, on the border of Paraguay and Argentina. Mr. Duarte also said he would resign from whatever position he held and questioned Washington’s accusations, saying he wanted to “go and ask” how they came about.
By imposing sanctions on the two Paraguayan officials, the US is “reaffirming its commitment to fighting corruption” around the world, according to the statement signed by Mr. Blinken.
In July, the US announced an entry ban on Paraguay’s former president Horacio Cartes (2013-2018), accusing the tobacco businessman-turned-politician of corruption and ties to “foreign terrorist organizations.” The former president rejected the accusations, which he says are “non-existent and unfair”.
Source: News Beast
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