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1 1 (October 31, 2024)

handle is hein.crs/goverdx0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Paraguay: An Overview Paraguay is a landlocked country in South America bordered by Argentina, Bolivia, and Brazil. The United States has had good relations with Paraguay for decades, providing assistance to counter corruption and spur trade and economic development. The United States and Paraguay also work together on counterterrorism and counternarcotics, among other security matters of interest to some Members of Congress. Recently, U.S.-imposed sanctions against top Paraguayan leaders have caused some bilateral tensions. Po It ca nvironnent Paraguay had a turbulent political history in the 19th and 20th centuries. In the War of the Triple Alliance (1864- 1870), Paraguay lost one-quarter of its original territory to its opponents-Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay-and more than half of its population died. From 1954 to 1989, General Alfredo Stroessner ruled as a military dictator; he was overthrown by a military coup. A constituent assembly elected in 1991 promulgated a more democratic constitution in 1992 that divides power among the president; a bicameral congress comprising a 45-member Senate and 80-member Chamber of Deputies; and the judiciary, headed by the supreme court. Paraguay has held regular elections since 1993, but its citizens continue to face some challenges in exercising their civil liberties and political rights. The conservative Colorado Party (also known as the Asociaci6n Nacional Republicana Partido Colorado or ANR-PC) has dominated Paraguay's political system. It held power for much of the 20th century, including under the Stroessner dictatorship, and has won nearly every election held since the democratic transition. The only exception was in 2008, when former Catholic bishop Fernando Lugo-affiliated with the main opposition party, the Partido Liberal Radical Autintico (PLRA)-won the presidency. The Colorado-led congress impeached Lugo in 2012, removing him from office in a rapid process condemned by neighboring countries. In 2013 elections, President Horacio Cartes (2013-2018) regained the presidency for the ANR-PC, despite allegations of involvement in money laundering and narcotics trafficking. Cartes's unsuccessful attempt in 2017 to amend the constitution to permit him to run for reelection in 2018 sparked violent protests. The 2018 election of Mario Abdo- Benftez (2018-2023) continued the ANR-PC's hold on the presidency, but intraparty divisions emerged during his administration, generally splitting the party between factions that support former president Cartes (known as Honor Colorado) and those that oppose him. Despite the tensions within the ANR-PC, the 2023 general elections resulted in a victory for the party over multiple opposition parties. The ANR-PC won the presidency, majorities in the Chamber of Deputies and Senate, and 15 Updated October 31, 2024 of 17 state governorships. Paraguay elected Santiago Pefia, a former finance minister under Cartes and Honor Colorado's presidential nominee during the ANR-PC primary, to a five-year presidential term. Pefia obtained nearly 44% of the vote, defeating Efrafn Alegre, the candidate representing the PLRA-led opposition alliance, Concertaci6n Nacional, and Paraguayo Cubas, of the far- right party Partido Cruzada Nacional. International observers commended the election's transparency but noted some irregularities. Paraguay at a Glance Population: 7.6 million (2023 est., IMF), 95% of whom identify as mestizo (mixed Spanish and Indigenous Guarani descent) Area: 157,047 sq. miles, slightly smaller than California (CIA) GDP: $43.0 billion (2023 est., current prices, IMF) Per Capita GDP: $5,686 (2023 est., current prices, IMF) Top Imports: electrical machinery, mineral fuels, heavy machinery (2023, TDM) Top Exports: soy beans, beef, electrical energy, cereals (2023, TDM) Key Trading Partners: Argentina (25.7%); Brazil (25.1%); United States (1 1.3%) (2023, total trade, TDM) Sources: International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook Database (IMF); Central Intelligence Agency, World Factbook (CIA); Trade Data Monitor (TDM). Since Pefia's August 2023 inauguration, the government has pursued market-oriented economic policies, supported reforms to increase transparency in the civil service and the public pension system, and supported measures to improve tax collection. Pefia also has pledged increased investment to improve security in the country. Another key priority of Pefia's government is renegotiating the financial terms of the binational Itaipd hydroelectric dam with Brazil. Former president Cartes-sanctioned by the United States for significant corruption (see below)-may exert outsized influence on Pefia's political agenda. In October 2024, pro-Cartes members of congress passed a bill to increase state control over nongovernmental organizations, prompting concerns from international observers that the bill, if signed into law, could unduly restrict civic space. Some observers suggest Cartes's influence also may stymy Pefia's efforts to tackle pervasive corruption in Paraguay. Economic and Social Conditions Paraguay's economy is driven largely by agricultural exports-primarily soybeans and beef-and electricity generated by the Itaipt Dam. Its reliance on climate- dependent commodities exports and informal labor, which

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