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Polls close as Paraguay holds key presidential election | |
(about 7 hours later) | |
Polls have now closed in Paraguay in an election seen as key to restoring the country's democratic credentials. | |
Exit polls suggest Horacio Cartes, of the conservative Colorado Party, holds a winning lead over the centre-right Liberal Party's Efrain Alegre. Official results are due in the next hours. | |
The country's standing dipped in the region after last year's disputed impeachment of President Fernando Lugo. | The country's standing dipped in the region after last year's disputed impeachment of President Fernando Lugo. |
The South American blocs Unasur and Mercosur both suspended Paraguay. | The South American blocs Unasur and Mercosur both suspended Paraguay. |
They cited a "rupture in the democratic order". | They cited a "rupture in the democratic order". |
The impeachment followed a land eviction at a farm last June that led to the deaths of 11 farmers and six police officers. | The impeachment followed a land eviction at a farm last June that led to the deaths of 11 farmers and six police officers. |
The incident sparked a nationwide outcry and the opposition declared President Lugo responsible. | The incident sparked a nationwide outcry and the opposition declared President Lugo responsible. |
Mr Lugo, a left-wing former Roman Catholic bishop, was impeached and replaced by Vice-President Federico Franco of the Liberal Party in less than 48 hours. | Mr Lugo, a left-wing former Roman Catholic bishop, was impeached and replaced by Vice-President Federico Franco of the Liberal Party in less than 48 hours. |
When a near unanimous vote blamed the president's handling of the crisis for the deaths, neighbouring countries recalled their diplomats citing a "congressional coup". | When a near unanimous vote blamed the president's handling of the crisis for the deaths, neighbouring countries recalled their diplomats citing a "congressional coup". |
'Twice as serious' | |
Mr Alegre has accused the vice-president of the Electoral Court, Jose Manuel Morales, of foul play for suggesting as votes were being cast that the Liberals would lose the elections. | |
"It's one of the members of the body responsible for preventing electoral violations. Therefore, it's twice as serious," a Liberal spokesman told local news website, Ultima Hora. | |
The country is choosing a new president and vice-president, 45 senators, 80 members of the lower house and 17 state governors. | The country is choosing a new president and vice-president, 45 senators, 80 members of the lower house and 17 state governors. |
International organisations, with more than 500 observers from Unasur, the European Union and the Organisation of American States monitored the elections, authorities say. | |
Mr Cartes' Colorado party governed Paraguay for 35 years, acting as the main allies of the military ruler Gen Alfredo Stroessner from 1954 to 1989. | Mr Cartes' Colorado party governed Paraguay for 35 years, acting as the main allies of the military ruler Gen Alfredo Stroessner from 1954 to 1989. |
Mario Ferreiro, a popular TV journalist, and the left-leaning doctor Anibal Carrillo Iramain, are other key candidates. | Mario Ferreiro, a popular TV journalist, and the left-leaning doctor Anibal Carrillo Iramain, are other key candidates. |
Landlocked Paraguay is one of South America's poorest countries, with an economy highly dependent on agricultural exports. It has long-standing corruption problems. | Landlocked Paraguay is one of South America's poorest countries, with an economy highly dependent on agricultural exports. It has long-standing corruption problems. |
Its GDP shrank 0.5% last year, although forecasts predict double-digit growth for 2013. | Its GDP shrank 0.5% last year, although forecasts predict double-digit growth for 2013. |