The Chamber of Deputies of Paraguay has been the scene of systematic obstruction of information requests related to the department of Ñeembucú, the political stronghold of Vice President Pedro Alliana. Recent voting data show that all requests for clarification on public management in the region are rejected or sent to committees, without approval.
The department is represented in the Lower House by Deputy Fabiana Souto (ANR), the vice president's wife, and Deputy Diosnel Aguilera (PLRA). While Souto consistently votes against the requests, Aguilera denounces that there is a 'chain of command' to block transparency. 'Evidently, someone gives the order to block my requests for reports. In the last session, for example, they sent requests about the state of the state's debt to its suppliers to the committee, but approved the creation of a commission to monitor these debts. It is at least incongruous,' said Aguilera.
One of the blocked projects was a declaration urging the Ministry of Public Works and Communications (MOPC), headed by Minister Claudia Centurión, to modify the executive project of Phase B of the Coastal Defense and include a park north of the Ñeembucú stream, bordering the Villa Paso, San José, and Guaraní neighborhoods in the city of Pilar. Aguilera questions the government opposition to a measure that would directly benefit the population. 'There is no justification whatsoever for officials to oppose this, if it is a request in favor of the city. Just like road repairs, everything is blocked,' he stated.
The obstruction is not limited to Ñeembucú. Recently, a lecture on transparency that was to be given by the Cartist deputies Rocío Abed and Yamil Esgaib, precisely known for blocking information requests, sparked controversy. The situation raises questions about the government's commitment to transparency and public oversight.