Senator Celeste Amarilla announced her pre-candidacy for the presidency of Paraguay for the Authentic Radical Liberal Party (PLRA) for the 2028 elections. In statements to the press, the legislator stated she is willing to compete in the party primaries and highlighted her "absolute predictability" as her main asset. "From today, the country knows how I will be as president. I have the capability, I have the track record, the whole country already knows me," she declared.
Amarilla explained that her decision was motivated by the movement of figures external to the party, such as Miguel Prieto, who announced Senator Salyn Buzarquis as his vice-presidential candidate. She criticized the possibility of the PLRA providing structure and resources for "outsider" campaigns while ignoring its own members. "The Liberal Party will take care of the votes, will have my proxies, will provide legal counsel and will provide the money," she questioned, arguing that the party should support someone "from within."
The senator also made harsh criticisms of her party colleague Eduardo Nakayama, expressing fear that he might abandon the PLRA after a potential election. "He could leave the party, become president and not govern with the Liberal Party," she stated. In contrast, she reinforced her own commitment: "I offer myself to be a predictable alternative, with the Liberal Party, never without the Liberal Party, always until death."
Furthermore, Amarilla responded to recent accusations from Senator Dionisio Amarilla, who allegedly called her a "drunk" during a session of the PLRA's Directorate. She vehemently denied the allegations and challenged her colleague: "Let him take a breathalyzer test. I don't need to get drunk to insult a scoundrel like that." The argument between the two, recorded on video, occurred during a debate about electoral courts.
Asked about other party names, such as Efraín Alegre and Blas Llano, the senator stated that both are still needed in national politics, even if they do not run for the presidency.