Hugo Velazquez reverses his resolution to resign after the US final week accused him of involvement in ‘major’ corruption.
Printed On 18 Aug 2022
The vice president of Paraguay has reversed a idea to resign this week, asserting he’ll not give up his put up until he has details of the US’s corruption claims against him.
Hugo Velazquez told newshounds on Thursday that he had within the initiating equipped to resign final week as he “assumed” there used to be a domestic investigation against him.
But on Wednesday, he bought observe from the Paraguay prosecutor’s office stating “that there may perchance be not a case against me”, Velazquez acknowledged.
“I had talked about after I spoke with you that I was going to resign from office … in relate to pass and protect myself as a standard citizen,” Velazquez told a neighborhood radio device.
“The day earlier than on the modern time afternoon I found out out that the Public Ministry made up our minds to ask the US Embassy for the details about the complaint against me. At the modern time, I enact not maintain a platform to protect myself attributable to there may perchance be not a investigation within the US both,” he added.
Closing Friday, US Secretary of Relate Antony Blinken acknowledged a Velazquez associate had equipped a bribe to a Paraguayan public unswerving to “hinder an investigation that threatened the Vice President and his monetary pursuits”.
Blinken acknowledged Velazquez may perchance presumably be barred from coming into the US because of his “involvement in major corruption, collectively with bribery of a public unswerving and interference in public processes”.
At the modern time the @StateDept designated Paraguayan Vice President Hugo Velazquez and associate Juan Carlos Duarte ineligible for entry to the U.S. for involvement in major corruption. We stand committed to supporting democracy and promoting accountability for heinous officials.
— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) August 12, 2022
“Snide acts equivalent to these furthermore make contributions to diminished self perception within the authorities and public perceptions of corruption and impunity at some stage within the office of the Paraguayan Vice President,” the tip US diplomat acknowledged in an announcement.
The accusation unleashed a political earthquake in Paraguay, where Velazquez used to be put to be the authorities’s presidential candidate in foremost elections for the conservative Colorado Event in December.
Velazquez, who has denied wrongdoing, nonetheless renounced his candidacy and acknowledged he would go the vice presidency this week.
But whereas the 54-year-feeble on Thursday acknowledged he would not resign as vice president now, he furthermore acknowledged in an announcement that his resolution not to be a presidential candidate is “immovable”.
In July, the US furthermore announced a ban on ragged Paraguayan President Horacio Cartes, accusing the businessman-grew to develop into-politician of corruption and hyperlinks to “terrorist” groups.
Cartes’ political circulation will face Velazquez’s within the primaries and the winner will be a candidate for the long-established elections scheduled for April 2023. Cartes’ candidate, ragged minister Santiago Pena, is quiet within the working.
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