Bolsonaro abandoned a controversial pact and saved Abdo from misery

The request for cancellation of the bilateral act came from the Abdo government, following the rejection caused in Paraguay and which had led the opposition to announce that it was going to request a political trial for its dismissal.

After the cancellation, this request – which must be made before Congress – has lost its strength.

"We withdrew with the intention of initiating the political trial against the President of the Republic. We believe that with the document that leaves the bilateral act without effect, the damage is repaired. ", dissident deputy Pedro Alliana announced on his Twitter account.

"We are about not to advance in the process of political trial, at least for the moment," said the politician, a reference from former president Horacio Cartes who heads the liberal wing of the Colorado party , while Abdo represents the conservative sector that claims the figure of dictator Alfredo Stroessner.

Without the dissidents of the governmental force, liberal opponents and the left do not have the necessary votes to dismiss the president.

After 24 hours without appearing publicly, Abdo yesterday sent a message to the nation, in which he thanked the people who supported him in the crisis, especially the Brazilian President, Jair Bolsonaro. "Democracy has triumphed," he said.

The Brazilian president said on Wednesday that relations with Paraguay "are exceptional, excellent" and said he is willing to "do justice to the issue of Binational Itaipu, which is very important".

The Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs ratified its support yesterday in a statement in which it stressed "the convergence of values" between the two governments and wanted a result "without breaking the democratic order".

The crisis erupted last week when an agreement was reached between the two governments in May. Paraguay has agreed to pay more for the energy it buys. Itaipu. Which, according to the experts, would have resulted in a loss of more than 200 million dollars for Asunción.

Hydropower, considered the second largest in the world, offers energy via a route called "Safe"which is priced at $ 40 per megawatt, and another for which it sells the surplus, which is worth less than $ 6, because its availability is variable. Paraguay has always acquired energy through this latter mechanism and then sold through the Andean companies the energy that it does not use to Brazilian companies to a higher price, which the May agreement has ended.

The crisis triggered by the deal forced Luis Castiglioni to resign Monday as Foreign Minister of Paraguay. With him, three other officials submitted their resignations.

The authorities of both countries have ordered that the technical bodies resume their meetings in order to define the electricity production schedule contracted by the Brazilian company Eletrobras and Paraguayan Ande for the energy distribution of the binational hydroelectric plant. Itaipu to both countries for the period 2019-2022.

The Paraguayans believe that Brazil is paying a ridiculous price for the energy sold by its partner and its neighbor. "We demand a payment at the market price," said Ricardo Canese, a specialist in hydropower and parliaments of the left-wing Frente Guasú (Frente Amplio).

"This problem is so sensitive for Paraguayans that it should have been treated directly between Abdo and Bolsonaro," said Brazilian badyst Hiram Pessoa de Melo.