Paraguay
Clashes Over Violence and Alleged Electoral Offenses in Mariscal Estigarribia
Days before the municipal election in Boquerón, competing accusations emerged over assaults, withholding of ID cards and the use of public resources. The complaints have already been filed with the National Police and the Public Prosecutor's Office.
The campaign ahead of the election for the mayoralty of Mariscal Estigarribia was marked by cross-complaints over acts of violence and alleged electoral irregularities, according to ABC Color.
According to that outlet, the Samu’u Foundation circulated a complaint with videos in which it claims that alleged operatives of List 123, from the Fuerza Mariscal Alliance, entered the indigenous community of Jotoicha while intoxicated. The organization said there were physical assaults against residents and leaders identified with List 7, from the Unidos por Mariscal Alliance.
Still according to the version cited by ABC Color, the conflict began after community leaders reported that supporters of List 123 had withheld their identity cards. The Samu’u Foundation blamed the mayoral candidate Carolina González Samundio for these events.
In contrast, opposition sectors circulated another version and pointed to acting mayor José Molinas, of the Colorado Party. According to that complaint, Molinas would be linked to alleged vote-buying schemes and withholding of ID cards in indigenous communities, in addition to having taken part in violent incidents at the local police station and having intimidated those present with gunfire.
ABC Color also reported a statement from the Fuerza Mariscal Alliance, which denounced an alleged improper intervention by Molinas in a police operation and questioned the use of municipal structures, resources and employees for partisan purposes.
The filings over alleged electoral offenses and violence have already been submitted to the National Police and the Public Prosecutor’s Office, which will have to determine any possible responsibilities.
Sources
About this note. Written by El Notero with assistance from artificial intelligence, based on what was published by the cited outlet. El Notero did not conduct its own reporting on this event.
