Congratulations to Paraguay’s new president and former bishop Fernando Lugo and the and Patriotic Alliance for Change (APC), a coalition of center and center-left opposition parties, grassroots political movements, farmers groups and other social organizations, for ending the country’s 61 years of rule by the right-leaning party, Colorado Party - the longest in office of any political party in the world.

Known as the “the bishop of the poor,” Fernando Lugo, gave up the priesthood in 2006 for a presidential bid. Running on a platform of progressive social and economic change, Lugo beat his Colorado Party’s opponent, Blanca Ovelar. by 10 percent. Ovelar was the first woman to run for the president and could have been Paraguay’s first female president if she was elected.

Once it was determined that Fernando Lugo had won the election, his supporters began pouring into the streets of the capital of Asunción to celebrate his victory by honking their horns, shooting off firecrackers and chanting Lugo’s name. From his headquarters, Lugo stated:

“Today we can affirm that the little ones are also qualified to win… We have completed one stage and today we begin the other one, that of a commitment to transforming Paraguay. This is the Paraguay of which I dream, with many colors, with many faces, the Paraguay of everyone.”

Recently, many have complained about the negative campaigning that has marred the Democratic Primary; however, this is mild in comparison to the vicious smear campaign that took place in Paraguay. According to Jack Chang of of Inside South America - a blog operated by McClatchy Newspapers - the Colorado Party were not shy accusing Lugo being “a kidnapper, a killer and a traitor to God.” Chang wrote:

The Colorados have accused Lugo of being in on the kidnapping and killing of the daughter of former President Raúl Cubas. Of course, no one has proved any of this, but no matter - make the accusation and then run with it. A golden oldie. The Colorados have even run TV ads of the slain woman’s mother tearfully accusing Lugo of being in cahoots with the kidnappers and predicting ruin for Paraguay if the kidnapping priest wins.

Lugo and his supporters where not shy hitting back, calling the current administration as “one of the most corrupt governments ever.” One campaign poster used by the Lugo and APC campaign depicted the current Paraguay President Nicanor Duarte Frutos, presidential candidate Blanca Ovelar and other Colorado Party members as mosquitoes flying into a cloud of ibug spray. The campaign poster reads, “Con tu voto eliminamos esta plaga” (With your vote, we’ll eliminate this plague).

Lugo promised to bring about land reform, has pledged to fight endemic corruption in Paraguay and promised to renegotiate the Itaipú treaty, under which Paraguay sells to Brazil for the power it imports from the Itaipú hydroelectric plant at a pittance.

Although Lugo is not scheduled to take office until August, the changes Lugo promised are already taking place. Soon after the election, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva agreed to begin formal negotiations with Paraguayan president-elect Fernando Lugo on “how to implement” a price adjustment. Brazilian Foreign Minister Celso Amorim said:

Brazil, “as the largest Latin American economy,” should help its poorest neighbours, Amorim said he thought “it is absurd that Paraguay, being a partner of one of the largest hydroelectric dams in the world,” should have “such a poor electricity supply in Asuncion” and that it not be able to invest in [as published] due to the lack of transmission lines that allow the regular supply of electricity.

Its no surprise people here in the US are trying to portray Fernando Lugo as Paraguay’s next Hugo Chávez and Bolivia’s Evo Morales. These attacks began last year. In a Christian Science Monitor commentary, Carlos Sabino, wrote that a Lugo win would mean that “democracy may be reversed.”

Now that Lugo won, other provocative and bombastic reports are now making its rounds throughout the news media and blogosphere. Pajama’s Media Bridget Johnson, Latin America’s Latest Marxist Leader Takes Power in Paraguay, feels Lugo campaign was funded by Chávez and is now “allies-in-waiting.” The Latin Business Chronicle is urging Lugo not to follow Venezuela’s path.

How Lugo will lead is country out of it’s economic misery is still uncertain, however, he will not be alone in this fight. Mercedes Lugo, Fernando Lugo’s older sister, will focus on humanitarian projects in the indigenous communities and slums. Lugo will also be helped in fulfilling his objectives by the fact that both left-leaning and indigenous candidates have been elected to Paraguay’s congress for the first time ever.

This victory is first step at restoring hope to South America’s second-poorest country.

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