Paraguay's president Fernando Lugo ousted from office

[malaise]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jun/22/paraguay-fernando-lugo-ousted
<snip>
Paraguay's senate voted to remove President Fernando Lugo from office on Friday in an impeachment trial that has plunged the South American country into a crisis.

After a five-hour trial, 39 senators voted to dismiss Lugo, while four senators voted against and two were absent. Based on the decision, Lugo is to be replaced by vice-president Federico Franco of the Authentic Radical Liberal party.

Crowds of pro-Lugo protesters took to the streets condemning the impeachment trial and expressing support for the president. Police in anti-riot gear drove them back on horseback and using water cannon.

Paraguay's lower house of congress voted to impeach Lugo on Thursday. The senate tried him on five charges of malfeasance in office, including an alleged role in a deadly confrontation between police and landless farmers that left 17 dead.

The Venezuelan foreign minister, Nicolas Maduro, who travelled to Paraguay ahead of the vote as part of a delegation from the UNASUR regional bloc, denounced it as a "new type of coup".

[Zorro]

1. It won't be long now

before someone blames the US as being behind the "coup".

[Octafish]

5. Yeah, it's not like the Bush families are meeting with Moonies there.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x3183814

Lugo? He's a former Catholic bishop and a man of integrity.

[Posteritatis]

6. Four hours and nine minutes. You were right! (nt)

[Octafish]

7. You can keep time. What do you know about Lugo and Paraguay?

I can guess what you know about the Bush connection.

[ocpagu]

12. Don't known if US is involved. Wouldn't be surpirsed it is, given its record in the region.

But an impeachment process of 30 hours is a coup. An opportunist coup.

[malaise]

13. Looks that way to me

[marmar]

14. Would you be shocked if it was?

nt

[DavidDvorkin]

2. I love the name Authentic Radical Liberal party.

[malaise]

3. LOL

as if they are competing with an inauthentic one

[DavidDvorkin]

4. Exactly.

[On the Road]

8. But It's the Radical Authentic Liberal Party You Must Love!

Those Authentic Radical Liberals are just ...

SPLITTERS!

[SoCalDem]

9. Uh-oh.. Bushies own partr of Paraguay, don't they?...n/t

[Overseas]

10. Sad K&R. It certainly does sound like a coup.

[HiPointDem]

11. brazil, argentina, ecquador refusing to recognize the new regime, calling it a coup.

http://www.lanacion.com.ar/1484357-unasur-y-mercosur-tomaria-medidas-severas-ante-la-remocion-de-lugo

[malaise]

15. Ouster of Paraguay's president sparks criticism

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/feedarticle/10303425
<snip>

President Fernando Lugo's rapid impeachment and ouster by lawmakers has plunged Paraguay into crisis and unleashed a wave of criticism by fellow leftist leaders in Latin America.

The former Roman Catholic bishop elected on a pledge to help Paraguay's poor said he would step aside following Friday's Senate vote to remove him from office, even though he called it a blow to democracy.

His quick acceptance of his ouster appeared to have prevented a bigger confrontation and potentially violent protests in the streets of Paraguay's capital of Asuncion, where his supporters had gathered. But other South American presidents were critical of the impeachment trial, which several called a de-facto coup d'etat.

"This goes beyond Fernando Lugo. It goes beyond Paraguay. It's about true democracy for all of our America," said Ecuador's leftist president, Rafael Correa, adding that his government will not recognize any government in Paraguay other than Lugo's.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said he won't recognize the "illegal and illegitimate government" that replaced Lugo either. Chavez said his ally "preferred the sacrifice" of stepping aside, and that the trial had been a setup.

In Argentina, the government of President Cristina Fernandez said it "is not going to validate the coup d'etat that just occurred" in Paraguay. Bolivian President Evo Morales also called it a coup.
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I'll be watching this closely