RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Paraguay closes 2021 with a low anti-Covid-19 vaccination rate, a very concerning reality for the Mario Abdo Benítez government in a year when the country assumed the 6-month pro tempore presidency of a Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR) in crisis and the national soccer team suffered numerous setbacks on its way to the World Cup in Qatar that removed Argentine Eduardo Berizzo from the bench, replaced by his countryman Guillermo Barros Schelotto.
LOW VACCINATION RATE
A 40-year-old nurse was the first person to be vaccinated against the coronavirus in Paraguay when the immunization campaign began last February with a delivery of 4,000 Sputnik V vaccine doses, reserved for healthcare workers.
The authorities are now concerned by the low vaccination rate, which according to the latest figures stands at less than 40% of the population with the full schedule, which has led the Ministry of Health to publish the daily figures report stating if the people infected have been vaccinated or otherwise.
ITAIPU, ADDITIONAL CONCERN FOR THE EXECUTIVE
Tariffs for the energy generated by the Itaipú dam were once again a source of concern for the Executive of Mario Abdo Benítez, who faced accusations from Paraguay’s opposition of maintaining “secret negotiations” with Brazil on this issue.
Paraguay proposes to maintain the US$54 per megawatt/hour that Brazil currently pays for the electricity supplied by the dam, but the Jair Bolsonaro administration is seeking a reduction in negotiations to be held in 2022, which promise further tension.
PARAGUAY ASSUMES THE 6-MONTH PRESIDENCY OF MERCOSUR
The Executive of Mario Abdo Benítez assumed the 6-month presidency of the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR) on December 17, when it received the baton from Brazil at a summit that highlighted the bloc’s internal crisis, when Uruguay decided not to support the reduction of the Common External Tariff (CET) agreed by its partners.
In his address, the Paraguayan leader pledged to prioritize the tariff discussion, but stressed that “the best way to defend interests is to work jointly and in coordination”.
BARROS SCHELOTTO FOR BERIZZO
Paraguay’s poor results on its qualification for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where it ranks second to last, led to the replacement of Argentine Eduardo Berizzo on the Albirroja bench by his countryman Guillermo Barros Schelotto.
El ‘Melli,’ accompanied on the coaching staff by his brother Gustavo, signed a contract until the holding of the 2024 Copa America. Despite the fact that Paraguay is in 9th place with 13 points, 4 points behind Peru, which ranks 5th. The national team still has 12 points to play, but it will face Uruguay on the next matchday, a rival that also needs points if it wants to qualify.
COMMITMENT TO SPANISH COOPERATION
Queen Letizia of Spain visited Paraguay last November and stressed that Spanish cooperation “will continue” in the country, particularly to support youth and women through projects in education, health and empowerment.
The purpose of the Queen’s trip was to highlight the work of Spanish cooperation in Paraguay, a country where it has been working for almost three decades, with a budget of over €200 (US$226) million, making Spain one of its main donors. This willingness to continue cooperating was embodied in the Spain-Paraguay Country Partnership Framework Agreement 2020-2023, signed in November 2020.
GUARANISAT-1, THE FIRST PARAGUAYAN SATELLITE IN SPACE
The Paraguayan Space Agency (AEP) launched the first Paraguayan satellite into space this year, Guaranisat-1, marking the beginning of a new stage in Paraguay’s technological development that will help improve the management and planning of responses to Earth issues.
Designed and manufactured in cooperation with Japan, the satellite will facilitate decision-making planning with land observation applications in a country that is increasingly exposed to fires and floods every year.
FAREWELL TO HAEDO VALDEZ
The Defensores del Chaco stadium dressed up on December 18 to bid farewell, surrounded by friends and former teammates, to Nelson Haedo Valdez, one of the most outstanding players of the national team, which achieved its best-ever qualification for South Africa 2010 with the squad that included the former striker from Cerro Porteño.
South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) president Alejandro Domínguez and Paraguay’s ex-president Horacio Cartes attended the tribute to the Paraguayan soccer player, who also played for German clubs Borussia Dortmund and Werder Bremen and Spanish clubs Valencia and Hércules de Alicante, among others.
FREE TRADE AGREEMENT BETWEEN PARAGUAY AND CHILE
Paraguay and Chile took a new step forward in their economic ties with the signing of the Free Trade Agreement which, in addition to increasing trade and favoring the generation of employment in the two countries, is expected to contribute to the post-pandemic economic reactivation.
The two countries also committed to advance in the implementation of the Bi-Oceanic Road Corridor – whose works began in the Chaco last December – to improve regional connectivity and the flow of people and goods from the region to the Asia-Pacific markets.
SOUTH AMERICAN GAMES IN DOUBT
The lack of the US$70 million initially allocated to the South American Games – which were redistributed to other items – is casting doubts on the organization of the 2022 South American Games that the South American Sports Organization (ODESUR) assigned to Asuncion 4 years ago.
Upon learning of the problem, Paraguayan Olympic Committee president Camilo Pérez said that Minister of Sports Fátima Morales had assured him that she would strive to ensure that the funds would be reincorporated into the allocated sports budget to allow the Paraguayan capital to fulfill its commitment.
BBVA COMPLETED SALE OF ITS PARAGUAYAN SUBSIDIARY
Spanish banking group BBVA sold its entire stake in BBVA Paraguay to Banco GNB Paraguay, a subsidiary of Colombia’s Grupo Financiero Gilinski, for US$250 million, in a transaction announced in 2019.
Once the two financial institutions were integrated, Banco GNB Paraguay became the leading bank by deposits in the South American country, with assets of US$3.27 billion and a 16% market share.