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Paraguay becomes South America's used car paradise

Agencia EFEMay 20, 2013 11:47

Asuncion, May 20 (EFE).- Paraguay has become the main destination in South America for used cars from Japan, the United States and other countries, thanks to new regulations aimed at making it easier to import automobiles so low-income consumers can purchase vehicles. Used cars are all the rage in Paraguay, where vehicles that have been shipped from thousands of kilometers away are put to use as soon as they are repaired and made fit for the road. "No one is dumb and everyone knows that the prices we have are good," used car dealer Francisco Lopez told Efe.

Asuncion street vendors, Paraguay's informal economy in action

Agencia EFEMay 11, 2013 16:15

Asuncion, May 11 (EFE).- Money changers and car parkers, paperboys, vendors of fruit juice and handicrafts, soccer articles and herbs for the popular drink called "terere," populate the streets of Asuncion and represent the informal economy that allows hundreds of thousands of families to survive. According to the Permanent Household Survey, Paraguay in 2011 had an economically active population of 3.2 million, with 5.6 percent unemployed and almost 708,000 people underemployed.

Paraguay's president-elect ordered on bed rest

Agence France-PresseApril 24, 2013 04:46

Paraguay's president-elect, millionaire businessman Horacio Cartes, a political neophyte with alleged drug ties, is on absolute bed rest after doctors discovered he had a herniated disk. The 56-year-old conservative tobacco baron, of the opposition Colorado Party, underwent an MRI at a private hospital on Tuesday, a statement said, where doctors discovered the problem. The president-elect will need to make a "temporary suspension of his activities in the coming days, according to medical recommendations," the statement said.

Opposition candidate wins Paraguay's presidential election

Agencia EFEApril 22, 2013 13:15

Asuncion, Apr 22 (EFE).- Opposition candidate Horacio Cartes won Paraguay's presidential election. "This is a victory for the Republic of Paraguay because all Paraguayans have won, the party won, but the Republic of Paraguay is the winner," Cartes, of the Colorado Party, told supporters Sunday night. Cartes's main rival, Efrain Alegre, conceded earlier in the evening. Cartes won 45.91 percent of the vote, while Alegre garnered 36.84 percent, with 81.06 percent of the ballots counted, the national elections commission said.

Paraguay's next president a rich newcomer to politics

Thomson ReutersApril 21, 2013 21:45

By Daniela Desantis and Hilary Burke ASUNCION (Reuters) - President-elect Horacio Cartes is one of Paraguay's wealthiest men and, in a country infamous for corruption, some voters hope that means they will have a leader who is not tempted to steal. Brash and ambitious, Cartes had never voted before joining the centre-right Colorado Party four years ago. But he managed to convince his party and voters that his business experience would be enough to lead the South American country.

Cartes wins Paraguay presidential vote

Agence France-PresseApril 21, 2013 21:01

Millionaire businessman Horacio Cartes of the opposition Colorado Party, a political neophyte, has won Paraguay's presidential election, electoral officials said Sunday. Cartes took 45.91 percent of the votes, compared to 36.84 percent for Efrain Alegre of the ruling Liberal Party, who has conceded defeat, Electoral Board chief Alberto Ramirez said. Voters were turning the page on a political crisis that saw leftist president Fernando Lugo impeached 10 months ago. The new president takes over from Lugo on August 15.

Cartes winning Paraguay presidential vote: exit polls

Agence France-PresseApril 21, 2013 20:48

Millionaire businessman Horacio Cartes of the opposition Colorado Party was leading in Paraguay's presidential elections, exit polls showed Sunday. Pollsters First Analysis y Estudios gave Cartes 50.8 percent against 37 percent for ruling party senator Efrain Alegre, and 5.1 percent for former TV host Mario Ferreiro of the leftist Avanza Pais (Country Moving Forward) movement. ICA pollsters, in turn, gave Cartes 59.7 percent of the vote, Alegre 34.3 percent and Ferreiro 6.8 percent.

Horacio Cartes elected Paraguay leader

Agence France-PresseApril 21, 2013 20:48

Millionaire businessman Horacio Cartes has won the race to become Paraguay's new president, electoral officials said Sunday. Cartes took 45.91 percent of the votes, compared to 36.84 percent for Efrain Alegre of the ruling Liberal Party, who has conceded defeat, Electoral Board chief Alberto Ramirez said. ad/mdl/oh

Alegre concedes defeat to Cartes in Paraguay's presidential vote

Thomson ReutersApril 21, 2013 20:45

ASUNCION (Reuters) - Efrain Alegre of Paraguay's ruling Liberal Party conceded defeat to millionaire businessman Horacio Cartes of the powerful Colorado Party in a presidential election on Sunday. (Reporting by Hilary Burke; Editing by Stacey Joyce)

Cartes leads official presidential vote count in Paraguay

Thomson ReutersApril 21, 2013 19:00

Asuncion (Reuters) - Horacio Cartes of Paraguay's Colorado Party was winning Sunday's presidential election by more than 9 percentage points, the electoral tribunal said, citing results from 35 percent of polling stations. Cartes was shown with 46.1 percent of votes while ruling party candidate Efrain Alegre had 36.9 percent. (Reporting by Mariel Cristaldo; Writing by Hilary Burke; Editing by Stacey Joyce)