Paraguay president advises vice president to resign after US corruption allegations

The president of Paraguay, Mario Abdo Benítez, has recommended this Sunday night to the vice president, Hugo Velázquez, that “the right thing to do is to resign”, after the accusations of corruption launched by the United States, although he “absolutely” respects his decision to remain in office.

“I think the right thing to do is to resign, but I absolutely respect his decision. I do not have the power of removal and I respect his decision”, stressed the president during an interview granted to the Paraguayan channel Telefuturo.

Benítez said that if he had been in Velázquez’s situation, “he would have resigned” from the post. However, the Paraguayan vice-president has ruled out resignation, which, he said, he will only present once the Attorney General’s Office notifies him of any complaint about these accusations made by the United States.

Last August 12, the U.S. State Department indicated that Velázquez fell into the category of “significantly corrupt” personalities, due to his alleged participation in this type of crimes, among them bribes to officials and interference in public processes.