Weekly Report - 30 May 2019 (WR-19-21)

After years of failed attempts to promote an electoral reform that eliminates the use of closed or ‘blanket lists’ (closed candidates lists) in legislative elections, the Paraguayan government led by President Mario Abdo Benítez has sanctioned a new law that does it. The introduction of the new law has been hailed as a positive step that should help to strengthen Paraguay’s democracy and make politicians and political parties more accountable to the electorate.