Paraguayan public institutions are systematically using the argument of 'unavoidable urgency' to make purchases without bidding, turning a legal exception into common practice. Data from the National Directorate of Public Procurement (DNCP) reveals that state entities massively resorted to this mechanism between 2024 and 2026, avoiding competitive processes for the acquisition of fuels, medicines, real estate, vehicles, and other items.
Law No. 7021/2022 on Public Supply and Procurement allows no-bid contracts only in specific situations, such as natural disasters, emergencies, or when there is a single supplier. The state oil company Petropar, led by Willian Wilka, leads the ranking with G. 2.4 trillion in exceptional purchases, mainly for fuel acquisition, justifying that the suppliers are domiciled outside Paraguay.
The National Cancer Institute (Incan) appears in second place, with contracts for medicines and equipment maintenance. The National Directorate of Migration, under Jorge Kronawetter, spent a significant amount on acquiring a system to improve air traffic security and migration control, citing 'technical reasons and state security'.
Senator Rafael Filizzola of the Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) strongly criticized the practice, warning that 'the exception has become the rule'. He highlighted that the lack of competition increases costs for the state and facilitates contract steering. Filizzola also mentioned parliamentary resolutions that would be 'shielding administrators' who abuse the mechanism without real justification for the urgency.
The Ministry of Education and Sciences (MEC) used the exceptional route to contract packaging and transportation services for school materials with a company linked to relatives of a Cartista deputy. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Social Development, led by Tadeo Rojas, acquired properties for settlements, including one in Areguá, the minister's hometown.
Filizzola also expressed concern about foreign consultants involved in regional scandals, specifically mentioning Argentine Fernando Cerimedo, imprisoned in Bolivia for attempted femicide and investigated for disinformation campaigns. The senator announced requests for information about possible links between advisors close to Cerimedo and the Paraguayan Chancellery, questioning participation in official delegations with Minister Rubén Ramírez Candia.
The Central Governorate has already used the effects of the El Niño phenomenon as justification for purchasing food kits, indicating an expansion of allegations to bypass competitive processes. The law establishes that when the exception is motivated by negligence or imprudence, the responsible official can be removed and penalized for serious misconduct.