MONTEVIDEO, April 3 (Xinhua) -- The leaders of the ruling Colorado Party announced on Monday their intention to approve the re-election project of Paraguay's President Horacio Cartes, after meeting with him.
"This re-election process has been built up from our base," said Luis Gneiting, the governor of the department of Itapua, in a press conference.
Paraguay has been driven by division over Cartes' attempt to change the Constitution and run for re-election. On Friday, a young leader of the Liberal Radical Authentic Party (PLRA) was killed by police at his party's headquarters, leading hundreds of people to pour onto the streets in anger, setting fire at the Senate.
The anger was sparked when 25 senators voted to support the constitutional amendment in a secret session, driven by the Colorado Party. It must now be approved by the Chamber of Deputies to become law.
"We are not dodging responsibility but it was not the Colorados (supporters of the party) who burned Congress," said Gneiting.
Alongside him, Colorado Party senator Lilian Samaniego accused the PLRA of speaking about using "violence to install their ideas", while the government will "respect what the citizens want."
Should the constitutional amendment pass the Chamber of Deputies, the government promised on Saturday it would then be submitted to a national referendum. Once passed, it would allow President Horacio Cartes and former President Fernando Lugo to stand in April 2018 elections.
However, the PLRA has presented a legal challenge to the Supreme Court, alleging irregularities in its approval by Congress.
