Paraguay's Consejo de la Magistratura (Magistracy Council) has come under fire after selecting prosecutor Aldo Cantero for a shortlist, sidelining colleague Deny Yoon Pak despite Pak's higher score and notable anti-drug trafficking record. According to Ultima Hora, the vote was 7-1 in favor of Cantero, with only Supreme Court Minister Luis María Benítez Riera backing Pak, who scored 567.47 points.
Cantero's nomination was proposed by Council President Gerardo Bobadilla and supported by members Alicia Pucheta, Enrique Berni, César Ruffinelli, Gustavo Miranda, Deputy Édgar Olmedo, and Senator Édgar López. Critics point to Cantero's history of case dismissals as a red flag.
Deny Yoon Pak, by contrast, directed the high-profile mega-operation A Ultranza Py, which led to the conviction of former senator Erico Galeano for alleged ties to organized crime, and has handled other narcotics cases. Despite this, he received only one vote.
The decision drew strong rebukes. Deputy Daniel Centurión told Ultima Hora that Cantero “must be outside the justice system,” adding, “Justice needs independence.” Deputy Rocío Vallejo called for “people of integrity” in the judiciary, while lawyer Cecilia Pérez declared, “Justice is rotten.”