Paraguay
Colorado dissidence is sidelined as political tension centers on Honor Colorado
According to Última Hora, the internal factions that once balanced forces within the ANR now have little influence over the ruling party’s decisions and disputes. The main confrontation is taking place within Honor Colorado, between the circle around Santiago Peña and Pedro Alliana and that of Horacio Cartes.
The dissident wing of the National Republican Association has lost its ability to influence and no longer occupies a central place in the main political decisions, according to an analysis published by Última Hora. The focus of the dispute has shifted inside the ruling party, where Honor Colorado is going through a strong power struggle between the executive branch led by Santiago Peña and Pedro Alliana, with support from Colorado governors and part of the Chamber of Deputies, and Horacio Cartes together with a group of allied senators.
According to that outlet, unlike in other periods, the dissident sectors no longer have the political weight or the numbers needed to constrain the ruling party. They have also been weakened in the territory: they no longer control governorships and retain few mayoralties. In the party primaries on June 7, the Cartismo prevailed in about 240 of the country’s 263 municipalities, around 90% of the electoral districts.
In that scenario, Arnoldo Wiens emerges as the main figure heading toward the 2028 presidential race within Colorado Añetete, the space led by former president Mario Abdo. Última Hora noted that both are campaigning across the country, although with low visibility. In the same vein, Fuerza Republicana, led by former vice president Hugo Velázquez, is also staying out of the central disputes. Velázquez, a candidate to lead the Colorado Party, also backs Wiens’ candidacy.
The newspaper stressed that the most relevant crisis today is unfolding within the ruling party and came close to a rupture. One of the points of conflict was the request for information submitted by a group of senators to the Central Bank of Paraguay about the financial capacity of ueno bank, an entity linked to Peña and which holds public funds, especially pension contributions.
In that context, one of the few dissenting voices to speak out was that of Deputy Roberto González, from the abdista sector. According to Última Hora, he warned that if the response from BCP chief Carlos Carvallo were not satisfactory, he would push for a political impeachment against those responsible, with reach even to the president of the Republic.
Deputy Luis Tiki González Vaesken also spoke, saying that the dissidence should not get involved in the disputes of another internal movement and reaffirming support for Arnoldo Wiens’ project.
For her part, Senator Lilian Samaniego announced her intention to run for the presidency and is organizing in the Senate alongside Arnaldo Samaniego, Juan Afara, Mario Varela and other leaders. However, Última Hora noted that her positioning appears closer to Peña’s government.
The outlet also mentioned that, alongside the loss of weight of the dissidence, speculation remains open about possible political agreements, both in Asunción and with a view to future formulas and understandings between sectors of Coloradismo.
Fuentes
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.
