Paraguay
Opposition figures value the conviction of Hernán Rivas and point to the political backing he received
Opposition lawmakers considered that the first-instance ruling in the fake degree case sends an important signal. At the same time, they stressed that the former senator would not have reached key posts without support from the Cartismo.
The first-instance conviction of Hernán Rivas to 8 years in prison in the case of his fake law degree prompted reactions in the opposition, where several lawmakers said the ruling confirms complaints they had been making for some time, according to Última Hora.
Senator Eduardo Nakayama said the sentence shows there was manipulation of institutions, although he considered that justice was ultimately done. He noted, according to that outlet, that the evidence was overwhelming and said Rivas signed the disputed document, endorsing something he, according to Nakayama, knew was not true.
Nakayama also recalled the criticism over Rivas’s performance when he chaired the Jury of Magistrates’ Prosecution and said this case leaves a lesson about the consequences of a lie. He also praised the work of the Prosecutor’s Office and the court, saying they acted despite political pressure, again according to Última Hora.
For his part, independent lawmaker Raúl Benítez said the ruling confirms the complaints he and former senator Kattya González had been making about the degree’s falsity. At the same time, he stressed that Rivas did not reach the presidency of the JEM on two occasions on his own.
Benítez argued that the case goes beyond the former senator’s individual responsibility and linked his rise to the backing of the political force that controls both chambers of Congress. In that sense, he pointed to Cartismo and specifically criticized Senator Gustavo Leite, whom he reproached for having supported Rivas to join and chair that body, according to what was published by Última Hora.
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.
