Paraguayan ex-president Cartes files complaint alleging political persecution

Former Paraguayan President Horacio Cartes (2013-2018) has reportedly lodged a complaint with the prosecutor’s office, alleging he has been subject to political persecution.

His lawyer, Pedro Ovelar, relayed the information via social media.

In his complaint, Cartes specifies the offenses as false accusation, simulation of punishable acts, persecution of innocents, criminal association, and usurpation of public functions.

A photograph of the first and last pages of the 20-page complaint was posted on social media by Ovelar, but it did not specify the accused parties.

Ovelar stated that since 2018, political groups have been generating false information and allegations based on “manipulated and distorted facts” with the intention of sidelining Cartes from public life.

To achieve this, the accused allegedly fabricated lies through state organs and established contacts with countries such as Brazil and the United States to disseminate false information, leading to processes and sanctions against Cartes and companies associated with him.

In August 2022, Washington branded Cartes and the outgoing Vice President Hugo Velázquez, both members of the ruling Colorado Party (right-wing), as “significantly corrupt”.

Later, in January 2023, the Treasury Department imposed sanctions on both politicians and Cartes’ companies.

Soon after, Cartes announced the dissolution of his economic group.

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