Paraguay: President Fernando Lugo was Removed from Office

The Paraguayan Senate voted to impeach President Fernando Lugo after a hasty trial. The Paraguayan Congress had voted in favor of opening an impeachment trial triggered by his handling of a land dispute between police and campesinos (”farmers”), which left 17 people dead (seven policemen and ten farmers).

A Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) delegation traveled to Paraguay to meet with the government and the opposition who pushed the impeachment trial. UNASUR had warned of a “camouflaged coup” and of the consequences that the President’s impeachment could bring to the country.

Today the Senate, which is controlled by the opposition, voted 39 to 4 that Fernando Lugo is guilty of poorly performing his duties, as reported by Paraguayan newspaper ABC [es]. Moments later, Fernando Lugo said he accepted the impeachment.

Protests immediately broke out outside Congress, denouncing this procedure as a coup d’état.