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President of Paraguay

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The president of Paraguay (Spanish: presidente del Paraguay), officially known as the president of the Republic of Paraguay (Spanish: presidente de la República del Paraguay), is according to the Constitution of Paraguay the head of the executive branch of the government of Paraguay, both head of state and head of government. His honorific title is Su Excelencia.

President of the
Republic of Paraguay
Presidente de la República del Paraguay
Standard of the president
since 15 August 2023
StyleMr. President
(informal)
Most Excellent Mr. President of the Republic
(official)
Su Excelencia[1]
(alternative formal, diplomatic)
StatusHead of state
Head of government
ResidenceMburuvicha Róga
SeatPalacio de los López, Asunción
AppointerDirect popular election
Term lengthFive years,
non-renewable
Formation13 March 1844
First holderCarlos Antonio López
DeputyVice President of Paraguay
Salary61,054,085 Paraguayan guarani/8,587 USD per month[2]
Websitewww.presidencia.gov.py
For a list of presidents, see List of heads of state of Paraguay.

The incumbent president of Paraguay is Santiago Peña, who took office on 15 August 2023. The presidential seat is the Palacio de los López, in Asunción. The presidential residence is the Mburuvichá Roga, also in Asunción. Once presidents leave office, they are granted by the Constitution of Paraguay the speaking-but-non-voting position of senator for life.[3]

Features of the office

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Requirements

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Article 228 of the Constitution establishes that the president must be a naturalized citizen, be at least 35 years old, and have full political and civil rights.[4]

Election

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Article 230 of the Constitution establishes that the president and the vice president must be elected in a joint ticket by a single round of direct vote, in an election taking place between 90 and 120 days before the expiration of the previous presidential term (per Article 229, August 15). Article 229 also establishes that the president serves a single term of 5 years and is forbidden to be re-elected under any circumstances, and that the vice president must resign from their role 6 months before the election, if they decide to run for the presidency.[4]

The re-election ban dates back to the aftermath of the Alfredo Stroessner dictatorship, in which Stroessner was re-elected without term limits. An attempt by the Senate to abolish term limits on 1 April 2017 resulted in protests;[5][6][7] it was ultimately rejected.[8]

Powers and duties

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According to Article 238 of the Constitution, the president's duties are:[4]

  1. Representing the State and direct the general administration of the country.
  2. Comply with and enforce the Constitution and its laws.
  3. Participating in the formation of laws.
  4. Veto laws passed by Congress.
  5. Issue decrees that require the endorsement of the Minister of the branch.
  6. Appoint and remove by itself the ministers of the Executive Branch, the Attorney General of the Republic and the officials of the Public Administration.
  7. The management of the foreign relations of the Republic.
  8. Report to Congress of the efforts carried out by the Executive Branch, as well as report on the general situation of the Republic and plans for the future.
  9. Being the Commander in Chief of the Nation's Armed Forces.
  10. Pardon or commute sentences imposed by the judges and courts of the Republic, and with a report from the Supreme Court of Justice.
  11. Convene extraordinary sessions of Congress.
  12. Proposing bills to Congress.
  13. Prepare and present the annual project of the General Budget of the Nation

Succession

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Article 234 of the Constitution establishes that in the event of impediment or absence of the offices of the President and Vice President, the Presidency of the Republic shall be assumed by, in order of succession, the President of the Senate, the President of the Chamber of Deputies, and the President of the Supreme Court of Justice.[4]

Residence

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The Mburuvicha Róga in Asunción is the official residence of the president. It was first built in 1930.[citation needed]

The Palacio de los López is the president's workplace, located in the center of Asunción. It was first built in orders of Paraguay's first president Carlos Antonio López in 1844, and was planned to be handed to his son and designated successor, Francisco Solano López. It was completed in 1867, in the midst of the Paraguayan War, and thus it was never used by Solano López. The Palace was heavily damaged in the war, and it was not until 1894 that it was finally restored and repaired by Juan Bautista Egusquiza, who was the first president to establish the Palace as his official workplace.[citation needed]

Latest election

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Main article: 2023 Paraguayan general election
CandidateRunning matePartyVotes%
Santiago PeñaPedro AllianaColorado Party1,291,20943.93
Efraín AlegreSoledad NúñezNational Coalition for a New Paraguay830,30228.25
Paraguayo CubasStilber ValdezNational Crusade Party692,42923.56
Euclides Acevedo [es]Jorge QuereyNew Republic Movement41,1641.40
José Luis ChilavertSofia ScheidParty of the Youth24,2590.83
Luis Talavera AlegreCelso ÁlvarezUnámonos National Party17,3280.59
Jorge Humberto GómezNoelia NúñezNational Union of Ethical Citizens12,0660.41
Juan Félix RomeroCatalina RamírezHumanist and Solidarity Movement5,8690.20
Rosa María BogarínHerminio LesmeHerederos Democratic Socialist Party5,2660.18
Prudencio BurgosLeona GuaraníNational Party of the People 30A5,2580.18
Alfredo Luis MachucaJustina NogueraCitizen Patriotic Coordinator Movement5,2040.18
Óscar Mauricio CañeteLuis Wilfrido ArceGreen Party Paraguay4,8470.16
Aurelio MartínezDavid SánchezÚnete Paraguay3,8660.13
Total2,939,067100.00
Valid votes2,939,06797.29
Invalid votes13,6940.45
Blank votes68,2882.26
Total votes3,021,049100.00
Registered voters/turnout4,773,42763.29
Source: TSJE

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Following standard protocols based on the Spanish Empire tradition: the style His Excellency is given to individuals that became chiefs of state. It is generally a lifetime style for the individual. In Paraguay, former presidents (unless removed by impeachment) are given the honorific title of Senador Vitalicio and retain the style of Excellency. The style The Most Excellent (Excelentísimo Señor/a), following Spanish tradition, is given to high ranking officials that are not chiefs of state. For example, the president of the Paraguayan Congress is Excelentísimo Señor/a. The style Excelentísimo Señor/a is ex officio (unless the individual who holds it forms part of the nobility).
  2. ^ "Shocking Gap Between Latin America's Presidential Salaries And Workers Minimum Wage". Latin Post.
  3. ^ Constitution of the Republic of Paraguay, 1992, Article 189 (subsection 1): "(1) Former presidents of the Republic who were democratically elected will be national senators for life, except for those who were impeached from office.
    (2) They will not count toward a quorum. They will have the right to speak, but not to vote."
  4. ^ a b c d "Constitución de la República del Paraguay". www.bacn.com.py. Archived from the original on 11 January 2022. Retrieved 12 May 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  5. ^ "Paraguay congress set on fire as election protests turn deadly". BBC News. 1 April 2017. Retrieved 1 April 2017.
  6. ^ Romero, Simon (31 March 2017). "Protests Erupt in Paraguay Over Efforts to Extend President's Term". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 1 April 2017.
  7. ^ "Paraguay rioters storm Congress after Senate amends constitution". USA Today. Retrieved 1 April 2017.
  8. ^ "Paraguay MPs reject amendment allowing president re-election". BBC News. 27 April 2017. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
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