Weekly Report - 11 July 2019 (WR-19-27)

Just how serious is President Mario Abdo Benítez’s commitment to combating corruption? This has become the main question being asked in political circles in Paraguay almost a year into his five-year presidential term. Abdo Benítez promised to be relentless in his fight against corruption in government “whoever may fall” when he assumed office in August 2018. But while significant anti-corruption efforts have been taken by his administration and the president himself has rejected moves by congress to push back against this, Abdo Benítez’s failure to replace officials in his government accused of corruption and to criticise recent controversial court rulings have raised concerns that his commitment is more passive than active.