Paraguay’s Nascent Occupy Movement Cut Short by Political Crisis

These developments come nine months before Paraguay´s general elections and following a novel wave of political organizing and protest by urban and youth groups, modeled after the occupy movement in the U.S. Thousands of protestors occupied the plaza last month demanding greater accountability from Congress and demanding that they reject plans to fund 10,000 patronage hires at a cost of US$15 million. This expression of citizen´s opposition triggered an about face in the senate and emboldened Paraguay´s occupiers to press for further electoral reforms. The political crisis unleashed by the impeachment trial has upset their plans and divided their ranks. While, Paraguay´s occupiers are united in their disdain for Paraguay´s political class, they hold mixed attitudes toward Lugo and are not natural allies of the President´s rural supporters.