LatinNews Daily - 19 May 2011

PARAGUAY: President Fernando Lugo met US President George W. Bush in Washington on 27 October. Bush said after the meeting in the White House that he had been impressed by the former-bishop's “corazón grande" [big heart] and praised the “strong stand" that Lugo - who ended the 61-year hegemony of Paraguay's Partido Colorado when he came to power in August - is taking against corruption. “There's nothing more discouraging than to have the government of a people steal their money", said Bush, adding, “we [the US] stand with you". Lugo remarked that it was “a joy" to be able to reinforce Paraguay's “historic relationship" with the US.  “We have said since the very beginning that if anything were to distinguish our government, it would be international solidarity", he declared, adding that working together to eradicate poverty is more important than political alignment.