PARAGUAY VICE PRESIDENT RESIGNS AFTER US SANCTIONS

Paraguay’s Vice President Hugo Velazquez announced his resignation on Friday and pulled out of the running for next year’s presidential election after he was sanctioned by Washington for corruption. The US State Department had earlier released a statement from Secretary of State Antony Blinken saying Velazquez will be barred from entering the United States due to his involvement in corruption, including bribery of a public official and interference in public processes Several family members were also sanctioned, as well as Juan Carlos Duarte, a close friend, and legal adviser to the company that runs the major Yacyreta hydroelectric power station.

Velazquez denied the US allegations and insisted he has a clean conscience. He had been a candidate for the ruling Colorado Party’s December primaries ahead of next year’s election. The US sanctions relate to Duarte offering a bribe to a Paraguayan public official in order to obstruct an investigation that threatened the vice president and his financial interests.

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