For the umpteenth time, the Cartist bloc in the Chamber of Deputies blocked a request for information on the distribution of teaching positions in the Ministry of Education and Sciences (MEC). The request, submitted by Deputy Roberto González (ANR, Añeteté), sought data on appointments made in the department of Caaguazú between February and April 2026. According to opposition lawmakers, the refusal came without substantive arguments.
González openly questioned: 'Why such zeal to prevent the affected institution from responding? What do they want to hide? This is not an anonymous complaint, but a responsible complaint from a deputy of the Nation. I take that responsibility.' The leader of the Honor Colorado bloc, Miguel Del Puerto, suggested that the request be sent to committees for unification, which was interpreted as a delaying tactic. Del Puerto also proposed a closed-door meeting with Minister Ramírez, an idea rejected by the opposition.
Deputy Diosnel Aguilera (PLRA, Radical Front) denounced a 'feast of political distribution of positions in all supervisions across the country.' According to him, 'with the figure of interim appointments and those in charge of dispatch, they are placing people who are not even in the databases. They are trampling on those who made sacrifices.' Aguilera called for a roll-call vote so that it is clear who supports handing out positions 'simply for wearing the red scarf,' a reference to the symbol of the Colorado Party.
Deputy Johanna Ortega (Solidarity Country Party) was the most incisive. She criticized the systematic blockade and announced that from now on she will resort to the Law on Access to Public Information and, if necessary, a judicial writ of security to obtain the data. 'The truth disturbs and deeply bothers me, not for myself, but for the people we represent. Proposing a closed-door meeting, without broadcast, with the Minister of Education, in response to a request for information aimed at providing transparency to all citizens,' she said.
Ortega described Minister Luis Fernando Ramírez as 'a useless minister, a puppet, who spends his time protecting politicians.' The reference is based on a previous episode in which Ramírez allegedly withheld information about the supposed law degree of Cartist councilor Nasser Esgaib. The deputy promised to go 'as far as the law allows' to ensure transparency, lamenting that lawmakers have to resort to legal instruments when the Constitution already guarantees them the right to request information from other bodies.