Riots are breaking out in Paraguay over President Horacio Cartes’s proposed change to the country’s Constitution, which would allow him to run for re-election,
Cartes is seeking to amend the constitution to enable himself to run for office again in 2018 after his current term ends.
Removing the ban would also allow left-wing former president Fernando Lugo to run again. He held power from 2008 to 2012, when he was removed after an impeachment trial.
After the Senate sidestepped opposition resistance and approved the bill, it was due to be voted on Saturday in the Chamber of Deputies, where the president has a majority.
The Paraguayan Congress building was set on fire on Sunday, over the proposed change,
Protesters in the Paraguayan capital of Asuncion stormed the National Congress building following a day of rallies in anger at the senators’ closed-door vote allowing President Horacio Cartes to run for re-election.
Opposition party youth leader Rodrigo Quintana died of severe injuries after being shot by police at his organization’s office. The Guardian reports,
Forensic investigators found that Quintana died as a result of lead shotgun pellets penetrating his lungs.
Video below the fold,
Prior reports had stated that Quintana died of severe head injuries caused by a rubber bullet,
A bullet in the head. Shot by the police. This was the tragic fate of a protester in Paraguay. pic.twitter.com/fxsZ1aPamd
— AJ+ (@ajplus) April 3, 2017
As of last night, the U.S. Embassy was asking that Americans remain home and avoid all protests.
