President Santiago Peña arrived in San Lorenzo this Monday to inspect the restoration works of Avelino Martínez Avenue, a road that remained abandoned for years. Accompanied by Mayor Felipe Salomón and Senator Óscar Salomón, the mayor's father, Peña promised improvements to the road and its surroundings. The visit occurs at a crucial moment in the municipal electoral pre-campaign, when Salomón faces a strong internal dispute in the Colorado Party.
The project, initially budgeted at G. 155.1 billion, was awarded for G. 242.7 billion, generating an overrun of G. 87.6 billion. The Ministry of Public Works attributed the increase to price updates and service complexity. The responsible construction company is EDB Construções, owned by engineer Enrique Díaz Benza, who also built Madame Lynch Avenue in Asunción amid allegations of irregularities, such as destruction of wetlands and seven-year delays, as well as cost duplication.
During the visit, Díaz Benza suggested to Peña that the name of Avelino Martínez Avenue be changed to General Andrés Rodríguez, arguing that Martínez was not a hero but a landowner. Peña responded that the change depends on the will of the population. The president also praised Díaz Benza, stating that he left a positive legacy with the Madame Lynch project.
Peña's presence in San Lorenzo is seen as direct support for Salomón, who seeks reelection and faces the candidacy of Édgar López, president of Sectional No. 2, supported by Hugo Velázquez and with strong financing from Horacio Cartes. López has donated air conditioning equipment and other items to schools and chapels, in addition to maintaining constant political activities in several neighborhoods.
Peña denied that political operator Jimmy Villaverde Emategui works at the Mburuvicha Róga Palace, despite the Deputy Minister of Mitic, Alejandra Duarte, having acknowledged that he often frequents the institution.