Fernando Lugo (center-right in the photo) is the newly-elected President of Paraguay. He brings hope to an impoverished nation. For the last 61 years, one party (the Colorado Party) has ruled Paraguay; about 2/3 of that time as a repressive right-wing dictatorship under a guy named General Alfredo Stroessner.Lugo got 41% of the vote. The candidate from the Colorado Party got 31%, and a former Army chief got 22%.
Fernando Lugo's politics are center-left. He's a former Roman Catholic bishop who stepped down from that post so he could run for president. His supporters are the Indians, peasant farmers, and trade unions. He is not a big fan of Cesar Chavez.
The now-unseated Colorado Party has the support the Army, the rich, and every power-broker who's enjoyed 60+ years of corruption.
Lugo is scheduled to officially take office on 15 August. We're laying even money that "the powers that be" don't even allow him to get that far. If he does get sworn in, then we're betting there'll be a coup within a year, and the only question is whether they'll send him into exile or "Allende" him.
Congratulations on making our 2008 Deathwatch List, Fernando Lugo. Best of health and best of luck. You'll need both.
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