RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Contrary to the interest of the Upper House to negotiate with Venezuela on the purchase of fuels, the President of the Republic, Mario Abdo Benítez, assured that Paraguay does not have relations with that country, considering that it is under the regime of Nicolás Maduro.
“No. No way,” Abdo Benítez answered forcefully to a journalist’s query on whether there will be any negotiation between the two countries.
Senator Óscar “Cachito” Salomón, president of the National Congress, was the one who confirmed this meeting that took place on April 3 between the Senate board of directors and Venezuelan parliamentarians, to whom the idea of buying fuel from their country would be raised.
In the framework of this meeting, it is also presumed that they would also discuss the complaint of Petróleos de Venezuela, SA (PDVSA) against Paraguay regarding a historical debt for the purchase of fuels, as stated by Salomón.
ABDO BENÍTEZ REJECTED THE EXECUTIVE’S PARTICIPATION
In the same sense, the president of Petropar, Denis Lichi, earlier indicated that he was invited to participate in the meeting of Venezuelan parliamentarians with the Paraguayans, but President Mario Abdo ruled out that possibility.
“Clearly (Abdo Benítez) stated: ‘Our government has no relationship with or does not recognize the government of Maduro, so this meeting on the part of the Executive Branch cannot take place’,” said the head of Petropar.
PARTIAL VETO TO THE “BRIDGE”
Also, on April 3, Abdo Benítez partially vetoed the bill which allowed Petropar to “ignore” the National Public Contracting Office in the purchase of fuels; however, the article allowed the state-owned oil company to purchase fuel directly and without intermediaries, with the elimination of the presentation of sworn statements, is still maintained.