Paraguay: Mario Abdo Benítez announced four changes in his cabinet after massive protests over pandemic management

A new demonstration was organized this Saturday, after a massive mobilization carried out 24 hours before against the lack of supplies to fight the coronavirus and the collapse of hospitals due to the increase in cases. Demonstration ended in clashes between police and citizens, which left at least 26 injured and one deceased.

The government announced this morning that the President asked the ministers to make their positions available, and after that announced four cabinet changes. In a recorded message, the president announced that the changes, which include health, education, the ministry of women and the head of the civil cabinet, they were taken “for pacification” and before the expectations of citizens.

“I am aware that citizens expect changes and I will do it», He declared in the message addressed to the country and collected by The nation. “I will appoint new ministers in the portfolio of Health, Women, Education and Civil Cabinet and this week we will continue to assess further changes,” Abdo concluded.

The president also said that the freedom of expression is guaranteed in the country, Although he did not criticize himself on Friday the action of the police against the citizens who denounced his management of the pandemic and the shortage of drugs in public hospitals.

Meanwhile, the main opposition parties agreed on Saturday that the way out of the political crisis is through the abandonment of the power of the president, and of the vice-president, Hugo Velázquez, and by new elections.

The leaders of these formations made known this approach after repudiates the performance of the police on Friday before Congress, when a concentration of several hundred people was dispersed with rubber granules, gas and hydrating trucks, which denounced the lack of supplies and drugs in hospitals and the government’s handling of the pandemic.

In this sense, the Catholic hierarchy deplored the incidents of Friday on Saturday, and emphasized a the indignation of citizens at factors such as “corruption in the administration of public resources”.

The Paraguayan Episcopal Conference requested in a statement that “the legitimate outrage of the population” is heard, about this demonstration in front of the Congress which was repressed by the police with rubber balls and in which the lack of drugs to face the covid-19 was denounced.

And emphasizes that the exercise of authority is weakened “when the efficiency, aptitude and moral probity of those who occupy positions are not up to the requirements”said the note.

“A cross-cutting factor is the corruption in the administration of public resources, which seriously outrages the people, weakens the credibility necessary to generate unity, hampering a positive national dialogue focused on solutions for all, ”the note said.

Two weeks ago, Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index Paraguay is the second most corrupt country in South America, just ahead of Venezuela, a ranking the Paraguayan government prefers to take from a distance.

Health care is another of the country’s weaknesses, stripped during the pandemic, which left 3,200 deaths and in recent weeks a steady increase in cases that have overwhelmed hospitals and outpatient clinics.

With information from AFP, EFE

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