Hugo Velazquez reverses his determination to resign after the US final week accused him of involvement in ‘important’ corruption.
The vp of Paraguay has reversed a plan to resign this week, saying he is not going to hand over his put up till he has particulars of america’s corruption claims in opposition to him.
Hugo Velazquez informed reporters on Thursday that he had initially provided to resign final week as he “assumed” there was a home investigation in opposition to him.
However on Wednesday, he obtained discover from the Paraguay prosecutor’s workplace stating “that there isn't a case in opposition to me”, Velazquez stated.
“I had talked about after I spoke with you that I used to be going to resign from workplace … with a view to go and defend myself as a typical citizen,” Velazquez informed a neighborhood radio station.
“Yesterday afternoon I came upon that the Public Ministry determined to ask america Embassy for the details concerning the criticism in opposition to me. Right this moment, I shouldn't have a platform to defend myself as a result of there isn't a investigation in america both,” he added.
Final Friday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated a Velazquez affiliate had provided a bribe to a Paraguayan public official to “hinder an investigation that threatened the Vice President and his monetary pursuits”.
Blinken stated Velazquez could be barred from coming into the US attributable to his “involvement in important corruption, together with bribery of a public official and interference in public processes”.
Right this moment the @StateDept designated Paraguayan Vice President Hugo Velazquez and affiliate Juan Carlos Duarte ineligible for entry to the U.S. for involvement in important corruption. We stand dedicated to supporting democracy and selling accountability for corrupt officers.
— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) August 12, 2022
“Corrupt acts comparable to these additionally contribute to diminished confidence within the authorities and public perceptions of corruption and impunity throughout the workplace of the Paraguayan Vice President,” the highest US diplomat stated in a assertion.
The accusation unleashed a political earthquake in Paraguay, the place Velazquez was set to be the federal government’s presidential candidate in main elections for the conservative Colorado Occasion in December.
Velazquez, who has denied wrongdoing, however renounced his candidacy and stated he would depart the vice presidency this week.
However whereas the 54-year-old on Thursday stated he wouldn't resign as vp now, he additionally stated in an announcement that his determination to not be a presidential candidate is “immovable”.
In July, the US additionally introduced a ban on former Paraguayan President Horacio Cartes, accusing the businessman-turned-politician of corruption and hyperlinks to “terrorist” teams.
Cartes’ political motion will face Velazquez’s within the primaries and the winner will probably be a candidate for the final elections scheduled for April 2023. Cartes’ candidate, former minister Santiago Pena, remains to be within the working.
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