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8. Fernando Lugo's exit after Paraguay 'coup' a setback for development

Fernando Lugo's exit after Paraguay 'coup' a setback for development

The ousting of Fernando Lugo by a rightwing parliament could stall democracy and social progress for a generation

Posted by
Jonathan Glennie and Cristiano Morsolin
Friday 29 June 2012 09.00 EDT guardian.co.uk

Another year, another rightwing coup against a pro-poor government in Latin America, this time in Paraguay. The 2009 coup in Honduras that removed President Manuel Zelaya from power may have set back reforms in the country for a generation, and human rights abuses continue to be widely reported.

The same reversal of progress may be the fate awaiting Paraguay if neighbours Brazil and Argentina, along with other countries in the region, fail in their bid to reinstate Fernando Lugo to the presidency. Lugo was impeached last week in a move he calls a "parliamentary coup".

There may be differences in form, but the story is essentially the same – progressive but imperfect leftwing leader ousted by rightwing forces determined to halt policies that threaten their business interests. Although it will be presented as an issue of politics, and therefore reported on the foreign affairs pages, it is a fundamental issue of development and human rights.

"Today it is not Lugo who is the subject of a coup," Lugo said as his rightwing successor prepared to take the oath of office, "not Lugo who is removed from power: it is Paraguayan history and its democracy that have been deeply hurt … I hope the people who did so are conscious of the seriousness of their acts."

More:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/poverty-matters/2012/jun/29/fernando-lugo-paraguay-coup-development