Paraguay: The bloodletting begins

I'm really beginning to really like this dude. Really.

Paraguay's newspaper of reference, ABC Color, is running a story today about how the ex-gov't of Nicanor Duarte Frutos "anaesthetised the press" (what a lovely expression) by "investing" U$13m in bribes for journalists and media outlets (radio stations getting more than their fair share) in the final 20 months of its administration. Here's Argentina's Clarin on the story, too (nice resumé).

For sure, this isn't going to come as a surprise for anyone that knows Paraguay, as in a world of Banana Republics it's been El Platano Mas Grande for decades. The real news here is that corruption is finally being reported to the public in a close-to-official manner (ABC Color is run by people who are pragmatic, are not stupid and will toe the official line without batting an eyelid).

This is an interesting and positive step forward in President Lugo's assault on corruption in the country. I suspect there will be various sweaty palms and nervous grins around the Congress building in the next few days, and that's the possible source of backlash that Lugo has to protect himself against. Plenty of politicking in the pipeline, folks...