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Development: On 7 April, the Paraguayan press reported that President Fernando Lugo had presented a ministerial re-organisation plan to the parties that make up his ruling coalition.

Significance: Lugo's broad based ruling coalition has been consistently weakening since he took office in 2008, and political differences between the various members have resulted not only in political gridlock in congress, but also in a cut throat competition for representation in government.

In particular, the centre-right Partido Liberal Radical Auténtico (PLRA), the main coalition member, has bitterly complained that it is severely underrepresented in the cabinet in comparison to the array of smaller and less influential left-wing coalition members. Prominent PLRA party members have argued that Lugo's appointments answer to a politically biased party quota system, a claim the government has repeatedly denied. 

Key points:
 
• According to the press reports, under President Lugo's "executive power structure innovation project", the number of ministries will increase from 10 to 18 through the division of certain portfolios, the fusion of others and the creation some new ones.

• Although details are scant, the ministry of ‘Hacienda' (which oversees finance and economics) will likely be split in two, with the creation of a new economy ministry. The same goes for the ministry of education and culture. Conversely, the ministry of agriculture and livestock is to be incorporated into a broader new ministry of rural development.

• President Lugo and his aides apparently presented the proposal to PLRA leaders late last night (6 April), before showing it to the rest of the coalition. The government has not yet confirmed the changes, which President Lugo said was the result of extensive discussion with over one hundred national organisations, private institutions and political parties".