Good Lugo News

 IKN prefers photos of Lugo from the time when he had hair

Last Thursday, President Fernando Lugo of Paraguay had a serious relapse in his current fight against cancer (he's under chemotherapy right now) and had to be rushed to the specialist hospital treating him in Brazil. Well, the good new is that today he's out of intensive care and likely to be discharged Wednesday.

Wishing you the best.

News roundup (we lick the rocks others fear to lick)

Setty got the background on how journalists get hired freelance-style to do corporate dirty work in LatAm. Today's best read.

Aguachile (a new reco on the list, great takes on Mexico issues) has the story of how Mexico is slapping trade embargoes on the USA, having been miffed once too often by its Northern neighbour's idea of "free trade". Go see.

Paraguay's Lugo has cancer, which is not good at all. He completed one of his chemotherapy sessions last weekend (he goes over to SP Braz for those) and has five more to do. Word from this report is that he's going to take all sessions on weekends to stop interference with his job as little as possible....which after all is nothingless than running a country.

Structurally Maladjusted has disappeared. Nearly a month with nothing posted...what gives, guys?

And then there's this, which is really difficult to put into words, except to say that those offended by bodily functions should not click through. I....errrr...."thank" the person who gave me the headsup on this....errr....unusual pictorial diary.

Paraguay update

Nadya Suleman, last seen heading for Asuncion

Fernando Lugo, South America's most fecund head of state, said last weekend that "only God is perfect" in relation to his ever growing paternity issues which is now at three kids and rumoured to be heading to seven. However it's also noticeable how all the scandal has actually made him more popular in machoman Paraguay where virility seemingly scores more points with the masses than maintaining vows of chastity. This has clearly ticked off the establishment opposition in the still powerful Colorado Party that must have been drooling over a resignation or a coup for a while back there. Now that the good ship Lugo is sailing through the paternity hoo-hah in fine style, frustration is beginnning to show as today ex-President Lino Oviedo called Lugo "indignant and immoral". He also went on to say:

"We have been ignored by him (Lugo) and he has to understand that the time of the single leader is over. A person of this immoral calibre cannot be spoken to....He doesn't accept the agenda of others but makes others accept his. He has to understand the (dictator and Ex President Alfredo) Stroessner is dead, that this man should understand that this is no longer inside democracy."

So by way of a bit of background to Oviedo's declarations today, let's try and give you a bit of equal context about Oviedo calling Lugo "immoral and indignant".

Example one: Madonna is scandalized by the fact that Britney Spears isn't a virgin.

Example two: Barry Bonds horrified by stories that track&field athletes take performance enhancing drugs.

Example three: Dick Cheney shocked about the way The Hawaiian might fudge an issue or two about foreign policy.

I could go on, but you should have the picture by now.

sent in by reader 'PA'

Thanks, man.

Lugo: Six More kids to come?????

Lugo meets his family-in-law

Sorry 'bout this mini-obsession over Lugo's ever-growing family. I know I should be covering serious and deep matters like Obama's handshake with Chávez, or dead mercenaries in Bolivia. Maybe getting all Lugo-ness out the way in one day will help things going forward.

So anyway, according to the latest stepper-forwarder, Damiana Morán, there are maybe another six woman with kids by Rasputin. In this report she mentions that she has unofficial information that says the other women will be joining the queue in the days to come.

Ever noticed how the word 'chaste' is a homophone of 'chased'?

Lugo and his family: The Song!

It didn't take long to get President Fernando Rasputin Lugo's fatherhood exploits set to music. Here we go with Paraguayan cumbia group Angeles and their tribute to the priestly stud.

You'll get the most out of it if you speak Spanish, but at least watch out for the chorus:

"Lugaucho tiene corazón, pero no usó el condon"

Translation (with "Lugaucho" a friendly mix of the word "gaucho" with "Lugo")

"Lugo has (a good) heart, but he didn't use condoms."

UPDATE: On the prompting of sketch I checked out the song again. Yep it's 'usó' and not 'usa'..so I've changed the translation. Thanks Sketch. FWIW I'm no good with lyrics in English, either. By the way the phrase "Lugo tiene corazón" isn't one chosen by chance by the group; it was Lugo's campaign slogan last year.

Congratulations Mr. President, It's Triplets!!

Yes indeedy, a third woman steps up and says that Paraguay's version of Rasputin, President Fernando Lugo, fathered her child.

Damiana Morán, 39, today revealed that her boy Juan Pablo (yes, as in Pope JP2) is fruit of a loving relationship with Rasputin.

Oh how I love South America! Wouldn't live anywhere else. Look upon us from your boring worlds up there and despair, blue-eyed-whiteys.

He's definitely not the messiah, he's a very very naughty boy

"I've disguised it as a string of garlic. They'll never know"

Step forward President Lugo's squeeze number two, this time a woman who bore his child back in 2002 while he was a serving bishop in San Pedro, Paraguay.

Here's the link to watch the video of Benigna Leguizamón who says the following about Lugo boy, Born on September 9th 2002:

"I am 100% certain that the father of my son is Fernando Lugo Méndez. All the department (region) of San Pedro knows that disgrace is the father of my son."

Hell hath no fury.......

UPDATE: The newswires on the story now. Here's AP

Paraguay: He's not the messiah, he's a very naughty boy

Lugo makes macho man arm signal...DOH!

I saw the scandal sheets on this story last week but thought "yeah well...another rumour". Then suddenly today the whole thing has gone thermonuclear.

President Fernando Lugo of Paraguay has just admitted in a nationally televised statement this morning that he's the father of a two year old boy that was fruit of a relationship with a certain Viviana Carillo. The thing is that it all went on while he was still a Catholic Bishop under orders. Here's Reuters in Spanish with the breaking news.

Well at least it wasn't with a choirboy I suppose, but wowsers, this one is a jawdropper. Is this what LatAm's new left-leaning leaders mean when they talk about illegitimate debt? it Expect very large rumbles in the Chaco over all this.

UPDATE: BBC News covering the story in English now.

Muffin does Paraguay

Every girl crazy 'bout a sharp dressed man

President Studmuffin today arrived in Paraguay on a 48 hour state visit that's officially to sign bilateral agreements, make for closer ties between the two countries and reaffirm the fraternal bond etc etc etc blah yada yada.

Interesting that Studmuffin can take two days out in the runup toPresidential election coming up next month (yep, the next bunfight on the list soon with us) and go visit his pally pal Lugo, no? That, to me, is a very strong statement of confidence about how the vote is going to turn out.

It also gives Studmuffin two days away from his major bugbear in life, namely the opposition Ecuadorian press, but guess what the main subject of conversation was in today's presser in Asunción? Yep, the Ecuadorian press. When they asked him about a recent report from the Interamerican Press Society (SIP) that had Ecuador on the list of countries that doesn't respect press freedom, this is what he said (via Ottotrans™):

• "What often exists, not just in Ecuador, is a corrupt and mediocre press that performs a political role."

• "I don't know who has legitimized this organization made up of media proprietors, not even of reporters."

• "(The SIP) opinions are given by people that, rather than defend freedom of the press, are defending freedom of the company."
  

• "Where can I report the press gagging of Ecuador's government? As the media can say many things, the President and the government has the right, based in freedom of expression, to answer."

Can't you just feel the love? Téréré served.

Religion (a three part story)

Peru
Alan Garcia sounds desperate. In another one of his condescending pep-talk speeches to (the people he thinks are) his minions, he uses the words "faith", "miracle" and "pray" to talk about the Peruvian economy. Tis the last refuge of the political scoundrel. I still fear the worst.

Paraguay
El Nuevo Herald reports that President Fernando Lugo has (for the third time since taking office) taken his cabinet of ministers away to "a spiritual retreat" some 170km west of the capital, Asuncion, so that they can formulate their plan to combat poverty in Paraguay. It must be like camp David....but better. More mosquitoes too, probably.

Mexico
Via the wonderful MexFiles we get to hear about the Vatican report entitled, "Fides Dossier on the Question of Immigration in the United States of America". The report includes such pearls as:

"… the institution of a free-trade area sanctioned by the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) in force since 1 January 1994, to regulate goods and capital, said [no]thing about the circulation of persons, or did anything to find a solution to the problem of migrants. Indeed, precisely in the 1990s, the competition of multinational companies and a capitalistic agriculture, inflicted a severe blow on Mexico’s economy, causing a rise in the unemployment rate, a substantial drop in industry wage levels and economic growth at minimum terms. The NAFTA, intended to bridle these tendencies, on the contrary, encouraged them."

As Mexfiles says, "AMEN TO THAT"

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...

Paraguay's President Lugo meets his new neighbour

There's a guy called Bush who lives up North somewhere and is about to retire or something, so he invited over the President of the country where he's planning on retiring. (For more details of the tiny, teeny plot of land that the Bushes recently bought in Paraguay and how and why they keep themselves bizarrely in touch with one of the world's true backwater states click here to learn more.)

But for this post, let's just enjoy the fact that the increasingly wonderful Fernando Lugo of Paraguay went on a State Visit to the USA and was all pally with Bush today. Whatever your flavour of politics may be, that fact totally rocks and it's great to see Lugo with Bush today (and no, I'm not being snarky, it really is good). Below is the full transcript of their official press meeting, pretty pictures and all (but frankly, that link above is much more fun).

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President Bush Meets with President Lugo of Paraguay
Oval Office

11:55 A.M. EDT

PRESIDENT BUSH: Bienvenidos, Señor Presidente, a la Casa Blanca. I am honored you are here to visit me in the White House. We have had a meaningful conversation -- a conversation that you would expect among people who have a deep desire to serve their respective people.

Mr. President, I've been impressed by un corazon grande. You care deeply about the people of your country. And I have felt that compassion.

I told the President that the United States wants to help. We want to help with education and health care. We care deeply about people being able to work. Our -- we believe in the social justice agenda. I believe that -- that it's important that the United States be in a position to help influence the lives of citizens that simply want a more hopeful day. And Mr. President, it gives me great comfort to know that you're the person with whom we can work.

I'm impressed by the fact that you want to take a strong stand against corruption. There's nothing more discouraging than to have the government of a people steal their money.

And so we stand with you. It's -- you got a hard job. I understand that. But you bring the right spirit to the job. And I so I want to -- I want to welcome you to the White House, and thank you for your conversation.

PRESIDENT LUGO: (As translated.) First of all, thank you very much for the invitation. It is a commitment and a joy to be able to reinforce our historic relationship with the United States.

Many people have asked, why now? And I think that it's particularly important to visit President Bush in his last days in the White House because we think it's very important to impress upon the world the importance of democratic institutions, and also because we believe that we, as individual people, pass. We have written that our personal history is not as important as the history of our respective peoples.

In Paraguay, I have entered politics in order to change the history of our country. We have not come into politics in order to get into the smokeless industry that is to steal from the people of the country. We came in as Christians, because our Christian duty is to serve the poorest and the neediest of our people. And today, as President of Paraguay, we're taking on all of the challenges with the greatest serenity possible so that we can help our people.

We are profoundly hurt in our souls by poverty, by the exodus of our young people, by the lack of education, by people who don't have roofs over their heads. We are profoundly moved by those people. But that pain is also impregnated with courage and decisiveness. And we have said since the very beginning that if there was anything that was to distinguish our government, it would be international solidarity.

I'll never forget that when I talked to one of our agricultural people, one of the people out in the country, a farmer who said, "What we need is bread. We don't care if it comes from the left hand or from the right hand, we just need somebody to give us food." And that's why we're here, because the Paraguayans have asked us to be here as President to try to recover Paraguay's dignity as a nation.

And I told President Bush that we have a lot of dreams, collective dreams, but also my personal dream. And our dream is that Paraguay be known not for its corruption, but for its transparency and for its dignity as a people and as a country. And we believe, we're convinced, that we will be able to achieve that.

Thank you.

PRESIDENT BUSH: Sí. Gracias, señor. Thank you, sir. Thank you.

END 12:02 P.M. EDT