A leaked audio recording has revealed how Cartismo senator Javier Zacarías Irún openly negotiated a contract at the Itaipú Binacional for the brother of a political operative, Osvaldo Sánchez Jara, in exchange for electoral support in Ciudad del Este. The recording, which took place on March 26 of this year, exposes the discretionary management of the entity, whose Paraguayan leadership is headed by Justo “Lucho” Zacarías Irún, the senator's brother.
In the conversation, Sánchez Jara — now a pre-candidate for city councilor for the Cartismo movement — confronted the senator about the breach of promises made by Lucho Zacarías and Deputy Rocío Abed, the director's wife. “He never delivered,” he complained, recalling that the vote margin that elected Abed was just over 300 ballots. The senator responded by downplaying the complaint and, faced with the insistence, fired back: “I'll sort things out for you in a second.”
The promise did not hang in the air. The day after the meeting, March 27, the operative's brother, Avilio Acuña Jara, signed a service authorization with the binational entity worth 15 million guaraníes per month. The document bears the signature of Director Justo Zacarías Irún himself. The arrangement, however, was not fully carried out, which led Sánchez Jara to withdraw his support for the Zacarías Irún clan's candidate in Ciudad del Este.
Beyond the position, the audio records the demand for a debt of 7,000 — with no currency specified — which the senator acknowledged: “I'm going to pay you your 7,000 (...) I know I owe you, I'm going to compensate you.”
When contacted, Javier Zacarías Irún claimed the recording was taken out of context and that the hiring “did not materialize.” First, he stated that he does not manage Itaipú; later, when confronted with the signed document, he said he was unaware of it. Despite the contradictions, the Cartismo caucus came to his defense. The bloc's leader, Senator Natalicio Chase, described the episode as “routine conversations” in politics and ruled out influence peddling or loss of office. “There is not the slightest possibility of this constituting a loss of mandate,” he declared, confirming that the group has already met with the senator, without announcing any sanctions.
The opposition reacted harshly. Senator Celeste Amarilla, of the Authentic Radical Liberal Party, considered the case a “palpable misuse of influence,” falling under Article 201 of the Constitution. “A senator of the Republic tells just anyone ‘use me as your secretary’ to obtain things in exchange for votes,” she criticized. She advocated for filing a motion for loss of office, even if only as a testimonial gesture, despite lacking sufficient votes to pass it.
Senator Juan Afara also saw signs of irregularity. “To me, it is misuse of influence, because there are too many people in need, who apply for countless competitive exams and don't even get a chance,” he stated. Regarding the management of the hydroelectric plant, he added: “In the face of the evidence, one has to surrender.”