A group of pre-candidates for councilor of the Paraguayan capital denounces the existence of alleged “slush funds” of collection in municipal markets and the Asunción Bus Station. According to them, people who falsely identify themselves as City Hall employees collect fees and bribes that do not enter public coffers, but are destined to finance electoral campaigns of councilors and candidates in this year's municipal elections.
Ever Escalante, pre-candidate for councilor by the Colorado Añetete movement of the National Republican Association (ANR, Colorado Party), stated that these irregular schemes operate in “zonal markets”, in traffic-related departments, and in decentralized entities such as the Bus Station. “This is vox populi, people know who controls these slush funds,” declared Escalante, who mentioned the existence of “fiefdoms” within City Hall and that “there are councilors who manage strategic places where collections are made.”
The pre-candidate estimated that, only in Market 4, the alleged scheme collects around 100 million guaranis per day, and that in the Abasto Market the amount would be even higher, although he did not provide exact numbers. He added that the denunciations involve both people linked to the Colorado Party and liberals.
Escalante said he has “witnesses, photos, names” and recordings that support the accusations and identify the alleged employees involved, but admitted he is still seeking documents to formalize a complaint with the Public Prosecutor's Office. “We will open a channel for anonymous denunciations, to protect the courageous employees who will deliver these documents to us,” he stated.