Asunción bondholders will decide on September 16 whether to seek legal action if the municipality does not prove that it paid the G. 41.101 billion promised for the previous day, while accumulated debt and unfinished drainage works expose the administration’s financial crisis.
Luis Bello
Pytagua coverage mentioning Luis Bello.
Asunción Mayor Luis Bello replaced a director convicted of corruption in less than a day after a union ultimatum threatening to halt garbage collection and political pressure.
Asunción Mayor Luis Bello appointed Víctor Basualdo, convicted of breach of trust and criminal association in a scheme to divert public funds, as director of Urban Services, prompting a motion of censure from the Municipal Board.
A criminal complaint filed by a city councilor and a lawyer alleges that the fuel diversion scheme known as the 'asphalt mafia' persists in the Asunción Municipality with new methods, even after an administrative intervention.
Councilor Álvaro Grau denounces irregular cleaning contracts in the administration of Luis Bello, criticizes the slowness of the Public Prosecutor's Office in investigating embezzlement from the previous administration of Nenecho Rodríguez, and reports judicial progress in the "golden detergent" case.
The administration of Mayor Luis Bello faces criticism in the City Council over plans to rent trucks and the lack of public transport, while the municipality announces free festivities for Asunción's 489th anniversary.
Horacio Cartes suggested that Camilo Pérez consider charging vehicles entering Asunción. Soledad Núñez rejected the idea and attributed the municipal crisis to corruption and the alleged diversion of funds under the previous administration.
Residents of the Mbocayaty neighborhood in Asunción are denouncing the halt in the land titling processes by the Municipalidad de Asunción and pressure from Grupo Vázquez to buy their properties, leading city councilors to request official information.
Wholesale merchants at the Mercado de Abasto in Asunción are denouncing the persistence of a structure of corruption, extortion, and severe insecurity, threatening protests if five accused employees are not removed.
The Asunción Municipal Board approved the 2025 budget, which covers both the previous and current administrations, amid criticism from the opposition, which labeled the decision a "whitewashing" of a government targeted by corruption allegations.
Paraguayan police seized gun parts shipped from Miami and declared as electronics at the Luque airport, with suspicion that the final destination was Brazil for criminal factions.
The majority bloc in the Asunción Municipal Board approved a G. 4.5 billion increase for contracts with the Directorate of Vialidad (Road Maintenance), ignoring allegations of materials being diverted to private projects and criticism of overpricing.
The municipality of Asunción, under the administration of Mayor Luis Bello, allocated 90% of the municipal budget to payroll and administrative expenses between January and April 2026, leaving less than 8% for urban infrastructure investments.
Councilman Álvaro Grau described as a "veiled threat" the note sent to the Asunción City Hall by the representative of the municipal bondholders, José Montero, who accepts payment of more than G. 90 billion for the overdue bond debt but reserves the right for creditors to take future legal action.
Taxpayers in Asunción paid US$4.5 million between January and April 2026 for stormwater works that, in most of the capital, do not exist, while only four of the eight promised basins have seen construction begin, and work is progressing slowly due to a lack of financial resources.
Asunción is facing a fiscal crisis following the diversion of more than G. 500 billion from the G8 bond, originally intended for stormwater drainage works, during the administration of former mayor Óscar "Nenecho" Rodríguez. Meanwhile, the current administration under Luis Bello is paying contractors with current municipal revenue, while residents endure poor public services, including potholed streets that cause accidents, inconsistent garbage collection, and chaotic traffic.
The Assunção City Hall is facing a financial crisis after the embezzlement of 500 billion guaranis intended for stormwater drainage projects, which led to duplicate payments and investigations into the management of the funds.
The Municipality of Asunción has launched the "World Cup Discount" campaign, offering up to 100% exemptions on fines and interest, 10% discounts for lump-sum payments, and installment plans of up to six payments without interest for taxpayers who settle their debts with the municipality by June 30, including a daily raffle for official Paraguay national team jerseys.
The Municipality of Asunción is preparing temporary shelters and emergency protocols in anticipation of potential flooding of the Paraguay River, whose current level stands at 3.15 meters and could reach between 3.80 and 4 meters by the end of the month.
Asunción mayoral candidate Soledad Núñez has reported the dismantling of garbage trucks, tractors and other city assets, which she says are being stripped for parts under interim mayor Luis Bello. She pledged an overhaul of municipal asset control and use.