Paraguay local elections increase Colorado dominance
Friday, October 15, 2021
Significance
The ruling Colorado Party won a resounding victory, taking control of 163 of the country’s 261 municipalities. The party retained control of the capital city, Asuncion, where it now has the mayoralty and an absolute majority on the local council. However, it failed to regain control in the cities of Ciudad del Este and Encarnacion.
Impacts
- The Colorado Party could reach an absolute majority in both houses of Congress in 2023.
- The fractured opposition represents little threat to Colorado dominance despite citizen backlash against corruption.
- The expansion of the political influence of drug gangs in sub-national politics is likely to continue.