Politics of Paraguay

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Paraguay
This article is part of the series: Politics and government of Paraguay

President Nicanor Duarte Frutos National Congress Chamber of Senators Chamber of Deputies Political parties Elections: 2008 Departments Foreign relations
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Politics of Paraguay takes place in a framework of a presidential representative democratic republic, whereby the President of Paraguay is both head of state and head of government, and of a pluriform multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the two chambers of the National Congress. The Judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature.

1 Constitution
2 Executive branch
3 Legislative branch
4 Political parties and elections
5 Judicial branch
6 Administrative divisions
7 International organization participation

[edit] Constitution

Paraguay's highly centralized government was fundamentally changed by the 1992 constitution, which reinforced a division of powers that in the previous two Constitutions existed mostly on paper.

[edit] Executive branch

Main office holders
Office	Name	Party	Since
President of Paraguay	Nicanor Duarte Frutos	Colorado	15 August 2003
Vice president	Luis Castiglioni	Colorado	15 August 2003

The president, popularly elected for a 5-year term, appoints a cabinet. The next presidential elections are scheduled for 2008. The president nominates the Council of Ministers

[edit] Legislative branch

The National Congress (Congreso Nacional) has two chambers. The Chamber of Deputies (Cámara de Diputados) has 80 members, elected for a five year term by proportional representation. The Chamber of Senators (Cámara de Senadores) has 45 members, elected for a five year term by proportional representation.

[edit] Political parties and elections

For other political parties see List of political parties in Paraguay. An overview on elections and election results is included in Elections in Paraguay.

[discuss] – [edit]
**Summary of the 27 April 2003 Paraguay presidential election results**
Candidates	Parties	Votes	%
Oscar Nicanor Duarte Frutos	Colorado Party	573,594	38.3
Julio César Ramón Franco Gómez	Authentic Radical Liberal Party	369,963	24.7
Pedro Nicolás Maráa Fadul Niella	Beloved Fatherland Movement	328,449	21.9
Guillermo Sánchez Guffanti	National Union of Ethical Citizens	208,003	14.0
Other		17,263	1.1
Total (turnout 64.2 %)		1,497,272	100
Source: Adam Carr

[discuss] – [edit]
**Summary of the 27 April 2003 Congress of Paraguay the election results**
Parties	Deputies			Chamber of Senators
Parties	Votes	%	Seats	%	Seats
National Republican Association/Colorado Party (Asociación Nacional Republicana/Partido Colorado)		35.3	37	32.9	16
Authentic Radical Liberal Party (Partido Liberal Radical Auténtico)		25.7	21	24.3	12
Beloved Fatherland Movement (Movimiento Patria Querida)		15.3	10	15.2	7
National Union of Ethical Citizens (Unión Nacional de Ciudadanos Éticos)		14.7	10	13.7	7
Party for a Country of Solidarity (Partido País Solidario)		3.3	2	4.3	2
National Encounter Party (.Partido Encuentro Nacional)		3.1	-	2.0	1
Free Fatherland Party (Partido Patria Libre)		1.1	-	1.0	-
Total (turnout 64 %)			80		45
Source: Paraguay Global

[edit] Judicial branch

Paraguay's highest court is the Paraguayan Supreme Court. The Senate and the president select its nine members on the basis of recommendations from a constitutionally created Magistrates Council.