Suspended Paraguay Says It Will Not Rejoin Mercosur

[Judi Lynn]

Suspended Paraguay Says It Will Not Rejoin Mercosur

ASUNCION, June 24 (BERNAMA-NNN-MERCOPRESS) -- Suspended Paraguay will not return to the Southern Common Market (Mercosur) trampling on the institutions of the country or from the group, warned president-elect Horacio Cartes during an event at the Paraguay-US Chamber of Commerce. He emphasised that if there is no respect or abidance by the rule of the law, "we will remain as we are".

Asked specifically when suspended Paraguay will return as an active member of Mercosur, Cartes said that he has been repeatedly advised "we must abandon Mercosur, recall the Triple Alliance war (1865/70), but gentlemen things don't work out that way: our great tool is dialogue and make sure Paraguay takes advantage of the good opportunities".

A year ago following a clash between landless peasants and police forces which left 17 people killed, the Paraguayan congress impeached and removed from office Fernando Lugo.

The almost unanimous vote was even accepted by removed Lugo who was replaced by President Federico Franco. But Mercosur (Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay) called it a 'congressional coup' and suspended Paraguay until the following legitimate presidential election which effectively took place last April 21.

More:
http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v7/wn/newsworld.php?id=958259

[Socialistlemur]

1. Mercosur seems to forget presidents ain't kings

Republics are supposed to have co equal branches of government, but it's up to the legislative branch to have the power to impeach using a supermajority system. The problem we all have is the rise of the imperial presidency. I think a constitution should be written such as to weaken the president and thus avoid abuses. We see this way too often.

[Bacchus4.0]

2. They won't rejoin if Ven holds the presidency

http://www.eluniversal.com/economia/130624/paraguay-not-to-rejoin-mercosur-if-venezuela-holds-presidency

[ocpagu]

3. Cartes is a clown.

"The president elect then underlined the unconditional support received only a few days ago from the European Union, "since the Paraguayan position, no matter how it is interpreted by them (Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay), or us for that matter, countries as Germany, France, Spain and Italy have congratulated us for defending and not negotiating institutional legality".

The Paraguayan king of smuggling and money laundry talking about "institutional legality". Wonder what Lugo would have to say about that.

As long as Paraguay continues to be a dictatorship in disguise, there should be no place for it in Mercosur.

[Socialistlemur]

4. Democracies require leaders who believe in democracy

Sometimes nations elect presidents who think they rule only on behalf of those who voted for them. But it should be evident a president is merely an executor of the popular will as expressed in its laws and pronounced by the congress, National Assembly, and/or senate. Thus true democracy requires a congress which truly reflects the popular will. I don't know if this is the case in Paraguay, but that's what they should strive for.

Regarding Paraguay being a dictatorship, or the particular merits of its president (I agree he's a bum but he's president nevertheless), the point is irrelevant, because the will of the people is expressed by its congress...and they don't seem to support rejoining Mercosur.

Mercosur was gutted by Argentina. It uses a really dumb strategy to control its currency at an inflated value, and this reduces the ability of its industry to compete with Brazilian counterparts. Thus the illegal protectionism surged, and today trade is dropping. To make matters worse Brazil acted to allow Venezuela into the block in an illegal fashion. So now Mercosur is merely a tool of Brazilian mercantilism used to drive exports into Venezuela. In other words, Mercosur as lost its utility and other trade blocks will likely replace it.