Weekly Report - 28 April 2016 (WR-16-16)

The impeachment proceedings against some long-questioned members of Paraguay’s supreme court (CSJ) is finally coming to a head in the national congress. The trial of Justice Sindulfo Blanco began in the senate after making its way through the chamber of deputies and could now be completed before the end of April. Should Blanco, who stands accused of dereliction of duty, corruption and links with local criminal organisations, be impeached it is likely that other sitting CSJ justices will follow as congress seeks to purge the top court of unsuitable individuals. But this process is viewed with apprehension by those concerned that the main political parties could take advantage of the situation to fill the CSJ with allied justices.