:Paraguay Government
Long-form name:
Republic of Paraguay
Type:
republic
Capital:
Asuncion
Administrative divisions:
19 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Alto Paraguay, Alto
Parana, Amambay, Boqueron, Caaguazu, Caazapa, Canindeyu, Central, Chaco,
Concepcion, Cordillera, Guaira, Itapua, Misiones, Neembucu, Nueva Asuncion,
Paraguari, Presidente Hayes, San Pedro
Independence:
14 May 1811 (from Spain)
Constitution:
25 August 1967; Constituent Assembly rewrote the Constitution that was
promulgated on 20 June 1992
Legal system:
based on Argentine codes, Roman law, and French codes; judicial review of
legislative acts in Supreme Court of Justice; does not accept compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
National holiday:
Independence Days, 14-15 May (1811)
Executive branch:
president, Council of Ministers (cabinet), Council of State
Legislative branch:
bicameral Congress (Congreso) consists of an upper chamber or Chamber of
Senators (Camara de Senadores) and a lower chamber or Chamber of Deputies
(Camara de Diputados)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justicia)
Leaders:
Chief of State and Head of Government:
President Gen. Andres RODRIGUEZ Pedotti (since 15 May 1989)
Political parties and leaders:
Colorado Party, Luis Maria ARGANA, acting president; Authentic Radical
Liberal Party (PLRA), Juan Manuel BENITEZ Florentin; Christian Democratic
Party (PDC), Jose Angel BURRO; Febrerista Revolutionary Party (PRF), Victor
BAREIRO; Popular Democratic Party (PDP), Hugo RICHER
Suffrage:
universal and compulsory at age 18 and up to age 60
Elections:
President:
last held 1 May 1989 (next to be held NA February 1993); results - Gen.
RODRIGUEZ 75.8%, Domingo LAINO 19.4%
Chamber of Senators:
last held 1 May 1989 (next to be held by NA May 1993); results - percent of
vote by party NA; seats - (36 total) Colorado Party 24, PLRA 10, PLR 1, PRF
1
Chamber of Deputies:
last held on 1 May 1989 (next to be held by NA May 1994); results - percent
of vote by party NA; seats - (72 total) Colorado Party 48, PLRA 19, PRF 2,
PDC 1, other 2
Communists:
Oscar CREYDT faction and Miguel Angel SOLER faction (both illegal); 3,000 to
4,000 (est.) party members and sympathizers in Paraguay, very few are hard
core; party beginning to return from exile is small and deeply divided
Other political or pressure groups:
Confederation of Workers (CUT); Roman Catholic Church
:Paraguay Government
Member of:
AG (observer), CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD,
IFC, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, LAIA, LORCS, OAS,
OPANAL, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation:
Ambassador Juan Esteban Aguirre MARTINEZ; Chancery at 2400 Massachusetts
Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008; telephone (202) 483-6960 through 6962;
there are Paraguayan Consulates General in New Orleans and New York, and a
Consulate in Houston
US:
Ambassador Jon D. GLASSMAN; Embassy at 1776 Avenida Mariscal Lopez, Asuncion
(mailing address is C. P. 402, Asuncion, or APO AA 34036-0001); telephone
[595] (21) 213-715; FAX [595] (21) 213-728
Flag:
three equal, horizontal bands of red (top), white, and blue with an emblem
centered in the white band; unusual flag in that the emblem is different on
each side; the obverse (hoist side at the left) bears the national coat of
arms (a yellow five-pointed star within a green wreath capped by the words
REPUBLICA DEL PARAGUAY, all within two circles); the reverse (hoist side at
the right) bears the seal of the treasury (a yellow lion below a red Cap of
Liberty and the words Paz y Justicia (Peace and Justice) capped by the words
REPUBLICA DEL PARAGUAY, all within two circles)
:Paraguay Economy
Overview:
Agriculture, including forestry, accounts for about 25% of GDP, employs
about 45% of the labor force, and provides the bulk of exports. Paraguay has
no known significant mineral or petroleum resources but does have a large
hydropower potential. Since 1981 economic performance has declined compared
with the boom period of 1976-81, when real GDP grew at an average annual
rate of nearly 11%. During the period 1982-86 real GDP fell in three of five
years, inflation jumped to an annual rate of 32%, and foreign debt rose.
Factors responsible for the erratic behavior of the economy were the
completion of the Itaipu hydroelectric dam, bad weather for crops, and weak
international commodity prices for agricultural exports. In 1987 the economy
experienced a minor recovery because of improved weather conditions and
stronger international prices for key agricultural exports. The recovery
continued through 1990, on the strength of bumper crops in 1988-89. In a
major step to increase its economic activity in the region, Paraguay in
March 1991 joined the Southern Cone Common Market (MERCOSUR), which includes
Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay. During 1991 the government began to more
seriously address its arrearages with international creditors and its
domestic fiscal problems. Inflation was cut in third, but the foreign trade
deficit widened to more than $1 billion. For the long run, the government
must press forward with general market-oriented economic reforms.
GDP:
exchange rate conversion - $7.0 billion, per capita $1,460; real growth rate
3.0% (1991 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
15% (1991 est.)
Unemployment rate:
14% (1991 est.)
Budget:
revenues $1.2 billion; expenditures $1.2 billion, including capital
expenditures of $487 million (1991)
Exports:
$642 million (f.o.b., 1991)
commodities:
cotton, soybean, timber, vegetable oils, coffee, tung oil, meat products
partners:
EC 37%, Brazil 25%, Argentina 10%, Chile 6%, US 6%
Imports:
$1.85 billion (c.i.f., 1991)
commodities:
capital goods 35%, consumer goods 20%, fuels and lubricants 19%, raw
materials 16%, foodstuffs, beverages, and tobacco 10%
partners:
Brazil 30%, EC 20%, US 18%, Argentina 8%, Japan 7%
External debt:
$1.7 billion (1991 est.)
Industrial production:
growth rate 5.9% (1989 est.); accounts for 16% of GDP
Electricity:
5,578,000 kW capacity; 15,447 million kWh produced, 3,219 kWh per capita
(1991)
Industries:
meat packing, oilseed crushing, milling, brewing, textiles, other light
consumer goods, cement, construction
Agriculture:
accounts for 25% of GDP and 44% of labor force; cash crops - cotton,
sugarcane; other crops - corn, wheat, tobacco, soybeans, cassava, fruits,
and vegetables; animal products - beef, pork, eggs, milk; surplus producer
of timber; self-sufficient in most foods
:Paraguay Economy
Illicit drugs:
illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade; important
transshipment point for Bolivian cocaine headed for the US and Europe
Economic aid:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $172 million; Western (non-US)
countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $1.1 billion
Currency:
guarani (plural - guaranies); 1 guarani (G) = 100 centimos
Exchange rates:
guaranies (G) per US$ - 1,447.5 (March 1992), 1,325.2 (1991), 1,229.8
(1990), 1,056.2 (1989), 550.00 (fixed rate 1986-February 1989),
Fiscal year:
calendar year
:Paraguay Communications
Railroads:
970 km total; 440 km 1.435-meter standard gauge, 60 km 1.000-meter gauge,
470 km various narrow gauge (privately owned)
Highways:
21,960 km total; 1,788 km paved, 474 km gravel, and 19,698 km earth
Inland waterways:
3,100 km
Ports:
Asuncion
Merchant marine:
13 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 16,747 GRT/19,865 DWT; includes 11
cargo, 2 petroleum tanker; note - 1 naval cargo ship is sometimes used
commercially
Civil air:
9 major transport aircraft
Airports:
845 total, 716 usable; 7 with permanent-surface runways; 0 with runways over
3,659 m; 3 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 66 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Telecommunications:
principal center in Asuncion; fair intercity microwave net; 78,300
telephones; broadcast stations - 40 AM, no FM, 5 TV, 7 shortwave; 1 Atlantic
Ocean INTELSAT earth station