2008 Paraguayan general election

none April 2021 Paraguay 1990 20 April 2008 2003 Paraguayan general election 2003 2013 Paraguayan general election 2013 yes Presidential election presidential 130x130px 65.48% ( 1.28pp) Lugo2008.jpg BA55D3 Fernando Lugo PDC Federico Franco APC 764,968 42.40% Blanca Ovelar.JPG Blanca Ovelar Colorado Party (Paraguay) Carlos María Santacruz 540,513 31.75% Lino Oviedo.jpg Lino Oviedo National Union of Ethical Citizens Nicolás Godofredo Lüthold 386,597 22.74% 320px Results by department 320px Results by district 2 President Nicanor Duarte Frutos Colorado Party (Paraguay) Fernando Lugo Patriotic Alliance for Change yes Chamber of Deputies All 80 seats in the Chamber of Deputies 41 Jose Alberto Alderete Colorado Party (Paraguay) 32.96 37 30 Blas Llano es Authentic Radical Liberal Party 28.27 21 27 Enrique Gonzales Quintana National Union of Ethical Citizens 18.70 10 15 Pedro Fadul es Beloved Fatherland Party 5.77 10 7 Tekojoja People's Movement 3.65 new 1 Progressive Democratic Party (Paraguay) 1.70 new 1 Patriotic Alliance for Change APC 1.32 new 2 #FF4430 BDA 0.37 new 1 2008 Paraguayan Chamber of Deputies election results by department.svg yes Senate All 45 seats in the Senate 23 yes Colorado Party (Paraguay) 29.07 16 15 Authentic Radical Liberal Party 28.92 12 14 National Union of Ethical Citizens 19.20 7 9 Beloved Fatherland Party 8.66 7 4 Party for a Country of Solidarity 3.47 0 1 Tekojoja People's Movement 2.98 new 1 Progressive Democratic Party (Paraguay) 2.19 new 1 General elections were held in Paraguay on 20 April 2008."Paraguay.- Convocan en Paraguay elecciones generales para el mes de abril de 2008" https://web.archive.org/web/20080102223801/http://www.lukor.com/not-mun/america/0705/25220446.htm 2 January 2008 , Lukor.com, 25 May 2007 es. Elections were held for the presidency, 45 senators, 80 representatives, 17 governors and Paraguay's members in the Mercosur Parliament.http://en.people.cn/90001/90777/90856/6395987.html OAS mission highlights Paraguayan voters great participation – People's Daily Online en.people.cn 19 April 2021 21 April 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210421152204/http://en.people.cn/90001/90777/90856/6395987.html dead The presidential election was won by opposition candidate Fernando Lugo of the Patriotic Alliance for Change, who defeated Blanca Ovelar of the long-ruling Colorado Party."Opposition wins Paraguay polls", Al Jazeera, 21 April 2008. The Colorado Party remained the largest in both houses of Congress despite losing several seats. The election ended a 61-year hold on the presidency by the Colorados. The Colorados had held the presidency without interruption since 1947 (from 1947 to 1962 as the de jure sole legal party, and from 1962 to 1989 as the de facto sole legal party). Additionally, when Lugo took office on 15 August, it marked the first time since Paraguay gained independence in 1813 that an incumbent government peacefully transferred power to an elected member of the opposition. Presidential candidates and campaigning The following candidates ran for president: Fernando Lugo, Patriotic Alliance for Change (APC) Lino Oviedo, National Union of Ethical Citizens (UNACE) Blanca Ovelar, Colorado Party (ANR-PC) Pedro Fadul es, Beloved Fatherland Party (PPQ) The incumbent president, Nicanor Duarte Frutos, was barred by the Constitution from running for reelection and instead supported his education secretary, Blanca Ovelar. Initial results in the Colorado Party's December 2007 primary showed Ovelar defeating former Vice President Luis Castiglioni,"Woman leads Paraguay ruling party's presidential primary", Associated Press (International Herald Tribune), 17 December 2007. but the result was disputed, leading to a recount."Once-jailed Paraguayan army chief nominated for opposition run for president" https://web.archive.org/web/20140201234721/http://www.chinapost.com.tw/news/2008/01/14/139039/Once-jailed-Paraguayan.htm 1 February 2014 , Associated Press (The China Post), 14 January 2008. On 21 January 2008, the Colorado Party electoral commission announced that Ovelar had won with 45.04% of the vote against 44.5% for Castiglioni, although Castiglioni continued to claim victory, alleging that 30,000 votes in his favor were "stolen", and said that he would take the matter to court. Ovelar said that her campaign would shift its focus from the "cruel primary campaign" to the general election and that her platform prioritized "fight against poverty and to the creation of jobs"."Paraguay nominates first woman for president, ruling party schism threatens bid", Associated Press (International Herald Tribune), 22 January 2008. Lugo is a former bishop who resigned from the priesthood in December 2006 in preparation for his presidential bid. As a priest, he required a permit from the Vatican to become directly involved in politics prior to 2006.http://www.angus-reid.com/polls/view/14124 Angus Reid Global Monitor Polls & Research: Lugo-Oviedo is Preferred Ticket in Paraguay 17 December 2006 usurped https://web.archive.org/web/20100823113706/http://www.angus-reid.com/polls/view/14124 23 August 2010 However, the Paraguayan constitution prohibits ministers of any faith from standing as a political candidate. Despite his resignation, the Vatican regards priesthood as a lifelong commitment but has suspended him from his duties.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7352148.stm Paraguay election: Key candidates James Painter 17 April 2008 BBC News 3 January 2010 As bishop of San Pedro, a poor region, for ten years beginning in 1994, his support for landless peasants earned him a reputation as "the bishop of the poor". He is an advocate of land reform and other measures to address poverty, but has distanced himself from leftists such as Hugo Chávez and Evo Morales, saying that he is not left-wing or right-wing but "in the middle". He vowed to end the Colorado Party's 61 year rule, fight corruption, and make Paraguay "a new country".Bill Cormier, "Paraguay ex-bishop holds final rally", Associated Press, 18 April 2008. May 2016 medicmedic According to Lugo, he believes "in the people's self-determination and in recovering sovereignty and independence". Lugo is backed by the Patriotic Alliance for Change (APC), which includes both left and right wing groups, notably the conservative Authentic Radical Liberal Party. President Duarte caused controversy just before the election by telling the Ultima Hora newspaper that Lugo "probably sells himself" for money from Venezuela, Bolivia, and Ecuador."Paraguayans head to the polls", Al Jazeera, 20 April 2008. Ovelar, the Colorado candidate, said that she knew "what the people need and what has to be done". She said that she would focus on job creation and the strengthening of agricultural cooperatives, hoping to reduce the number of Paraguayans who emigrate for economic reasons. According to Ovelar, Paraguay has "new needs that were not obvious before ... and they require the touch of a woman". If elected, Ovelar would have been Paraguay's first female president. Lino Oviedo's conviction for 1996 mutiny was overturned by the Supreme Court in October 2007, leaving him free to run for president.http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aCLjZZ_dRsBM&refer=latin_america Paraguay's Oviedo Cleared to Run for Presidency, Nacion Says Faries Bill 11 February 2015 Bloomberg dead https://web.archive.org/web/20150211235823/http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aCLjZZ_dRsBM&refer=latin_america 11 February 2015 17 April 2020https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/lino-oviedo-politician-who-helped-lead-the-1989-coup-in-paraguay-8497542.html Lino Oviedo: Politician who helped lead the 1989 coup in Paraguay 15 February 2013 The Independent en live 17 April 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20130324154355/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/lino-oviedo-politician-who-helped-lead-the-1989-coup-in-paraguay-8497542.html 24 March 2013 In January 2008 he was nominated as the candidate of his party, the National Union of Ethical Citizens, without opposition. Ovelar held her last campaign rally in Asunción on 16 April. Along with Oviedo and Fadul, she participated in a last televised debate in the early afternoon of 17 April; Lugo did not participate, and Ovelar criticized him for this. Lugo held his last rally in Asunción later that night, with about 15,000 supporters present. Opinion polls A poll from September 2007 saw a three-way race develop between Lugo, Oviedo and the ANR-PC candidate."Oviedo Becomes New Favourite in Paraguay" Angus Reid, 20 September 2007. A poll from November 2007 saw Lugo lead with over 40%, with Oviedo in second place and Castiglioni or Ovelar (it was still undetermined which of the pair would run) in third place."Lugo Leads All in Paraguay’s Presidential Race", Angus Reid, 22 November 2007. A poll from March 2008 saw two way developing with Lugo in the lead with 31%, Ovelar in second place with 27% and Oviedo in third place with 24%.http://www.angus-reid.com/polls/view/30256/lugo_ahead_of_ovelar_and_oviedo_in_paraguay/ Lugo Ahead of Ovelar and Oviedo in Paraguay: Angus Reid Global Monitor 26 March 2008 usurped https://web.archive.org/web/20080421093812/http://www.angus-reid.com/polls/view/30256/lugo_ahead_of_ovelar_and_oviedo_in_paraguay/ 21 April 2008, Angus Reid, 26 March 2008. A poll from 5 April 2008 saw Lugo and Ovelar in a statistical dead heat with Lugo in the lead with 30.9%, Ovelar in second with 30.1%, and Oviedo in third with 21.4%. More than 10% remained undecided.http://www.angus-reid.com/polls/view/30365/lugo_barely_ahead_as_paraguay_vote_looms/ https://web.archive.org/web/20080409080258/http://www.angus-reid.com/polls/view/30365/lugo_barely_ahead_as_paraguay_vote_looms usurped Lugo Barely Ahead as Paraguay Vote Looms: Angus Reid Global Monitor 9 April 2008 Results Shortly after the election, with results from 13,000 of 14,000 polling stations counted, Lugo had 41% of the vote against 31% for Ovelar and 22% for Oviedo. Lugo's supporters celebrated in the streets of Asunción, and he declared that "today we've written a new chapter in our nation's political history". Ovelar conceded defeat, acknowledging that Lugo's lead was unassailable. A couple of hours later, President Nicanor Duarte Frutos appeared at a press conference somberly but remarked that for the first time in the history of Paraguay a handover to the opposition will take place peacefully and in an orderly fashion.https://www.ultimahora.com/nicanor-reconoce-la-derrota-del-partido-colorado-n109808.html Nicanor reconoce la derrota del Partido Colorado ultimahora.com In the gubernatorial election, the ANR won nine departments, the PLRA seven and the APC one.http://www.abc.com.py/fotos/2008/05/03/080503230641243.jpg Archived copy 12 May 2008 25 August 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080825141909/http://www.abc.com.py/fotos/2008/05/03/080503230641243.jpg dead In August, shortly before taking office, Lugo struck a deal with Oviedo, enabling him to govern with a parliamentary majority. Together, the Authentic Liberal Radical Party and National Union for Ethical Citizens will hold 25 out of 45 Senate seats and 44 out of 80 House of Representatives seats.Pedro Servin, "Paraguay prez-elect makes deals for majority", Associated Press, 13 August 2008. May 2016 medicmedic Lugo was sworn in as president on 15 August 2008."Latin America's leftwing swells with new Paraguay president" https://web.archive.org/web/20090302142123/http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hqFLYrBs7ry_miqB_KSjyiqy2J_Q 2 March 2009 , AFP, 15 August 2008. President Fernando Lugo Patriotic Alliance for Change 766502 Blanca Ovelar Colorado Party 573995 Lino Oviedo National Union of Ethical Citizens 411034 Pedro Fadul es Beloved Fatherland Party 44060 Sergio Martínez Estigarribia Paraguayan Humanist Party 6744 Horacio Enrique Eduardo Galeano Perrone Tetã Pyahu Movement 3080 Julio César López Benítez Workers' Party 2409 66303 2861940 Justicia Electoral Chamber of Deputies thumb|350px|Results by department|right Colorado Party 582932 30 −7 Authentic Radical Liberal Party 500040 27 +6 National Union of Ethical Citizens 330754 15 +5 Beloved Fatherland Party 102139 3 −7 Tekojoja People's Movement 64566 1 New Progressive Democratic Party 29980 1 New Movement for Socialism 29223 0 New Patriotic Alliance for Change 23363 2 – National Encounter Party 14227 0 0 Hope for Social Renewal 9251 0 New Tricolour Democratic Alliance 8280 0 New People's Unity Party 8119 0 New Party for a Country of Solidarity 7887 0 −2 Paraguayan Humanist Party 7455 0 0 Tetã Pyahu Movement 7511 0 New Caazapeña Patriotic Alliance 7451 0 New Boquerón Departmental Alliance 6629 1 New #FF4430 National Revolutionary Alliance 4568 0 New National Citizens' Resistance Movement 4562 0 New Oñondivepa Political Movement 4206 0 New Broad Front Party 3918 0 0 Northern Patriotic Alliance 3538 0 New Workers' Party 2128 0 New MONAPEJUAM 1547 0 New Departmental Consensus for Change 1296 0 New National Christian Union 1077 0 New AC–PFA–BSP 946 0 New Revolutionary Febrerista Party 520 0 0 Guaireña Alliance for Change 516 0 New Republican Force Movement 93 0 New 103941 0 2861940 TSJE Senate Colorado Party 509907 15 −1 Authentic Radical Liberal Party 507413 14 +2 National Union of Ethical Citizens 336763 9 +2 Beloved Fatherland Party 151991 4 −3 Party for a Country of Solidarity 60947 1 +1 Tekojoja People's Movement 52247 1 New Progressive Democratic Party 38402 1 New National Encounter Party 20843 0 −1 Movement for Socialism 10564 0 New National Citizens' Resistance Movement 9864 0 New Tetã Pyahu Movement 8030 0 New People's Unity Party 7510 0 New Tricolour Democratic Alliance 7260 0 New Hope for Social Renewal 5066 0 New Paraguayan Humanist Party 4893 0 0 Pensioners to Power 4789 0 New Broad Front Party 4322 0 0 MONAPEJUAM 3657 0 New Oñondivepa Political Movement 3116 0 New National Revolutionary Alliance 2853 0 New National Christian Union 1915 0 New Workers' Party 1951 0 New 118257 0 2861940 TSJE References Paraguay General election Category:Parliamentary elections in Paraguay Category:Presidential elections in Paraguay Category:Fernando Lugo Paraguay