Yearbook 2008
Paraguay. In a historic victory, former Catholic Bishop Fernando Lugo won the presidential election in Paraguay on April 20, setting the point for the Colorado Party’s 61-year-long power, taking office August 15. Lugo won with 41 percent of the cast, against 31 percent for the Colorado Party candidate Blanca Ovelar and 22 percent for former General Lino Oviedo, who was running for a Colorado outbreak party. The electoral victory and the surrender of power were positive in a country like Paraguay, where the Colorado power’s long power holdings, political violence, military coup attempts and Latin America’s most widespread corruption made the trust in the democratic process not very strong. Although Lugo is considered the latest addition to the line of left-wing presidents in Latin America, his ideological profile was rather difficult to determine.
Lugo also quickly faced political problems. The first was the outgoing Colorado president Nicanor Duarte Frutos, who won a seat in the Senate. It is admittedly permissible for former presidents, but his political opponents believed that Fruto’s maneuver was aimed at gaining legal immunity against the allegations of corruption that, as expected, hailed him. As a direct response to the political crisis that seemed to be approaching, Lugo declared on September 1 that the rumors of an imminent military coup had been reached, rumors that in Paraguay should always be taken seriously. Part of the background was also that Lugo replaced 33 of the country’s top military commanders immediately after taking office.
- ABBREVIATIONFINDER: Click to see the meanings of 2-letter acronym and abbreviation of PY in general and in geography as Paraguay in particular.
In November, a grassroots movement conducted a three-day protest in Asuncion against how slow Lugo’s promised land reform was going. Land issues have long been high on the agenda, and during the year countless land occupations and protests from landless peasants occurred.
In connection with the presentation of the Paraguayan Truth Commission’s final report on August 28, President Lugo, in an emotionally charged speech, asked all those affected by human rights violations under the dictator Alfredo Stroessner’s regime in the state’s name of apology. Stroessner, of the Colorado Party, ruled Paraguay in 1954–89.
Population 2008
According to Countryaah reports, the population of Paraguay in 2008 was 6,247,909, ranking number 107 in the world. The population growth rate was 1.410% yearly, and the population density was 15.7262 people per km2.
Before the disastrous war of 1865-1870, fought against Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay, the population of Paraguay was estimated at around 900,000 residents The war, after which Paraguay had to give about 145,000 sq km to Brazil and Argentina. of territory, he called to arms all male citizens over 15 years, and since the Paraguayan army was then literally annihilated, the population decreased a lot. In the census of 1886 (which moreover deserves very little credit) there were 240,000 residents (of which only a small percentage of men), which rose to 600,000 in 1899, 850,000 in 1914 and 1,013,000 in 1930. The percentage of men is still much lower than that of women, with consequences of not negligible importance in the life of the country (70% of illegitimate births). Ethnically, the population consists mainly of Mestizos, resulting from the crossing of Bianchi with Guaraní; the Whites, mostly of Spanish origin, although in a small percentage, have the intellectual, political and economic life of the country in their hands. More or less pure Amerindis are found in Chaco (about 50,000: Toba, Lengua and Chamacoco) and in the forests of Paraná (some Guaraní tribes).
Paraguay would have great need of immigrants, because it lacks the population necessary for the development of its economic resources. The example given by immigrants also serves to stimulate the activity of indigenous people, who are indolent in nature, and to teach them more modern and profitable methods and systems of cultivation and breeding. The only welcome immigrants are those who are dedicated to agriculture and livestock. Between 1905 and 1932 the country received only 19,300 immigrants overall: the influx therefore has always been very low, and this is because, given its geographical situation, the country has some disadvantages in comparison with its neighbors, Brazil and Argentina, where the European immigrant is closest to the country of origin, to which he can return more easily or from which he can more easily bring other members of his family, and where, furthermore, the living conditions are at a more advanced stage than in Paraguay (greater ease of transport and therefore of marketing of products; European language spread throughout the country instead of Guaraní commonly spoken in the Paraguayan countryside, etc.). On the other hand, it should be noted that Paraguay offers a soil of exceptional fertility almost everywhere, which can be purchased at a very low price, and a very mild climate, with very mild winters. European language spread throughout the country instead of Guaraní commonly spoken in the Paraguayan countryside, etc.). On the other hand, it should be noted that Paraguay offers a soil of exceptional fertility almost everywhere, which can be purchased at a very low price, and a very mild climate, with very mild winters. European language spread throughout the country instead of Guaraní commonly spoken in the Paraguayan countryside, etc.). On the other hand, it should be noted that Paraguay offers a soil of exceptional fertility almost everywhere, which can be purchased at a very low price, and a very mild climate, with very mild winters.