Weekly Report - 8 February 2007

The political opposition is endeavouring to present a united face for the presidential elections in 2008 and end the ruling Partido Colorado's stranglehold on power. The principal opposition parties - Partido Liberal Radical Auténtico (PLRA), Patria Querida, and Unión Nacional de Ciudadanos Eticos (Unace) - several smaller parties and some 30 social organisations signed a political accord on 5 February to form a coalition, or Concertación Nacional. Conspicuous by his absence was the presidential candidate for Tekojoja, Fernando Lugo, the bishop of San Pedro. Lugo was suspended 'a divinis' by the Vatican last week for refusing to withdraw his candidacy.