Asunción Mayor Luis Bello (ANR-HC) formalized the appointment of Víctor José Emilio Basualdo Ramírez as the new director of Urban Services for the capital. The designation was revealed during a session of the Municipal Board on Wednesday, through a note in which Basualdo requested an extension to attend a summons from the municipal legislature, citing that he was in the process of transferring duties due to his recent appointment by Resolution DRH No. 1179/2026.
The revelation prompted immediate rejection from some council members, as Víctor Basualdo has a final judicial conviction. He was sentenced to two years in prison, with suspended execution, for the crimes of breach of trust and criminal association, acting as an accomplice in a scheme to divert funds during the administration of then Central Department Governor Hugo Javier.
According to the prosecution by the Public Ministry, between March 2019 and December 2020, the Central Department Governor's Office improperly disbursed funds for projects. The investigation found that Basualdo, in his role as Secretary of Economic Development, issued favorable opinions to authorize transfers of public money despite irregularities in the projects, causing an estimated financial loss of over G. 18.3 billion.
During the debate, council member Álvaro Grau (PPQ) vehemently questioned the appointment. "We cannot allow people with such backgrounds to occupy such important positions in a municipality that is emerging from the scandal of the diversion of G. 500 billion," he stated, referring to a previous case in the city administration. He requested that the Board formally express rejection of the designation.
The motion of censure was approved by nine votes. Council member Humberto Blasco (PLRA), who supported the measure, ironically stated that the new director "would first have to clean himself before cleaning the city." Meanwhile, council members from the ruling party attempted to end the debate, without success.
The appointment comes at a time of crisis in Asunción's garbage collection service. The Municipal Board had summoned the previous interim director, Máximo Medina, to provide clarifications on the bidding and acquisition of 11 new garbage trucks, but the hearing was postponed. With the change, council members decided to summon the new director, Victor Basualdo, to provide an account within eight days.
Mayor Luis Bello has not publicly commented on the criticism of appointing a convicted official to lead one of the most critical and questioned areas of the municipal administration.