Land Reform: A Clear and Constant Problem for Paraguay’s President

• President Lugo’s hands are barely on the wheel.

State of Emergency Declared
On April 26, 2010, Paraguay suspended due process and constitutional rights as a result of a State of Emergency (SOE) that was declared in five northern provinces: Concepción, San Pedro, Amambay, Presidente Hayes, and Alto. The official purpose of this action was to apprehend some of the officers as well as members of the elusive Paraguayan People’s Army (EPP), a newly formed armed leftist guerrilla group. Nevertheless, many Paraguayan political figures disagreed with the decision to institute the SOE, and few tangible results flowed from the thirty-day sore suspension of constitutional provisions.

The murders of four civilians and one policeman—attributed to the EPP— on April 21, 2010, finalized President Fernando Lugo’s decision to move forward with the state of suspension. Hoping to implement a sixty-day SOE, Lugo turned to Congress to gather support; however, after careful consideration before casting its vote, the final decision of the legislative body was to limit Lugo’s request to a thirty-day “estado de excepción.” The reduction originated in the House of Representatives, with the Senate quickly following suit, enacting the thirty-day bill by a unanimous vote. President Fernando Lugo had the constitutional authority to enact a SOE without these procedures, but chose to go through Congress in his request to suspend basic rights in affected areas. The Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) supported Lugo’s imposition of the SOE.

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