Paraguay
Baruja downplayed Cartes' announcement and said Alliana will decide the vice-presidential candidacy
The housing minister said Horacio Cartes' statement was a preference within the internal debate in Honor Colorado. He said the final decision on the 2028 running mate will be announced by Pedro Alliana after the municipal elections.
The Minister of Housing, Juan Carlos Baruja, sought to lower the temperature of the open internal dispute in Honor Colorado after the announcement by Horacio Cartes, who named him as a vice-presidential candidate for 2028 alongside Pedro Alliana.
According to ABC Color, Baruja spoke about the issue after a ceremony inaugurating social housing in Acahay, in Paraguarí. There, he said that what Cartes expressed is part of an internal discussion and a dynamic that, in his view, will ultimately strengthen the movement.
The official said that Cartes had already expressed his preference for his name before and stressed that this does not amount to a final decision. In that line, he said that every Colorado leader may express his position, but insisted that the one who will make the decision will be Alliana, once the municipal elections of October 4 are over.
Still according to ABC Color, Cartes’ remarks triggered an immediate reaction within the ruling party. Alliana reaffirmed on social media that he will announce his running mate only after the municipal elections, while different sectors of cartismo backed other options, including those of Raúl Latorre and César Luis Sosa.
Baruja also reaffirmed his loyalty to Cartes and to Honor Colorado, and described the situation as part of a legitimate debate within a broad space. He also said he does not feel either accepted or rejected, but honored by the preference expressed by the former president.
In that context, he said he will abide by the political decision adopted by the team and stressed that he will continue supporting the ruling project from whichever position he is assigned.
Sources
About this note. Written by El Notero with the assistance of artificial intelligence, based on what was published by the cited outlet. El Notero did not conduct its own reporting on this event.
