*By Alejandro Aguilera
Since the inauguration of President Santiago Peña, it has become routine to hear colleagues from Honor Colorado accuse the previous administration of leaving a “heavy legacy”. Accusations range from alleged unpaid debts to misappropriation of funds and corruption.
Moreover, Congressman Yamil Esgaib even went so far as to suggest that Mario Abdo Benítez should wear an electronic ankle bracelet, equating him with a criminal at risk of fleeing.
However, it’s wise to pause and look beyond the rhetoric. If the portrayal of the Abdo Benítez administration is so negative, why do so many officials from his administration not only remain in their positions but some have even been promoted?
Let’s review some names. Alfredo Mongelós remains the head of SINAFOCAL; Juan Carlos Duarte continues as president of CONATEL; Felix Sosa remains president of ANDE; Édgar Ruiz remains the executive secretary of the Secretariat for the Development of Repatriates and National Refugees; José Carlos Camperchioli continues as president of SENACSA; Cristina Gorawleski remains president of INFONA; and Manuel Ochipintti remains president of the National Development Bank.
Despite the media campaign against him and efforts to tarnish his legacy, former President Abdo Benítez can find solace in the facts. Continued appointments and promotions of his former associates in the new government underscore a clear message: his administration made the right decisions.
The list goes on. Juan Rafael Caballero, former general director of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce’s Cabinet, became deputy minister of Justice; Óscar Stark moved from deputy minister of Transport to deputy minister of Commerce; Amanda León, former BNF manager, became president of the Agricultural Credit Board of Directors; Stella Marys Guillén, former member of the AFD board, is now president of AFD; Marco Elizeche, former deputy minister of financial administration at the Ministry of Finance, moved to deputy minister of financial administration at MOPC; Guido Benza, current deputy minister of transport, was the general director of the Ministry of Public Health and Social Welfare; Lilio Cardozo, former general director of internal audit at the Ministry of Defense, is the current deputy minister of Defense.
Furthermore, the list includes Adriana Ortiz, former director of the Paraguayan Institute of Crafts, now Minister of Culture; Óscar Lovera, former BNF board member, currently deputy minister of financial administration at the Ministry of Finance; Francisco Ruiz Díaz, former deputy minister of industry, current president of the National Institute of Rural Development and Land (Indert); Carlos Pereira, former Minister of Urbanism, Housing, and Habitat (MUVH), now a member of the IPS council; Oscar Orué, from deputy minister of the State Taxation Subsecretary, moved to National Director of Tax Revenues (DNIT); and Walter Emilio Gutiérrez Cabrera, current Minister of Childhood and Adolescence (Minna), was deputy minister of Planning, Programs, and Projects at Minna.
As can be seen, this long list of former officials from the previous government in the new administration is a resounding rebuttal to the ruthless rhetoric against former President Abdo Benítez. If his administration was truly so disastrous, why is there such a clear revalidation of his officials in the new administration?
Perhaps what’s really at play here is a facade, a simple political strategy seeking to justify the inherent difficulty of governing. But actions speak louder than words. The vindication of Marito’s administration, through the ratification and promotion of his former associates, shows that not everything was bad. Like every administration, there were mistakes, but also undeniable achievements.
What we notice is a recurring narrative in our recent political history, which places the blame for all missteps on former presidents, while attributing successes to certain ministers. This narrative suggests that these officials operated in isolation from politics, as though their public duties weren’t overseen and endorsed by the leadership, and that their effective management was solely a result of technical expertise.
Despite the media campaign against him and efforts to tarnish his legacy, former President Abdo Benítez can find solace in the facts. Continued appointments and promotions of his associates in the new government underscore a clear message: his administration made the right decisions.
In times when narratives are quickly built and distractions are sought to avoid addressing real issues, it’s vital for citizens not to lose perspective.
Because, at the end of the day, as the popular saying goes, “actions speak louder than words”. And in this political game, Marito could look at the current government and, smiling, say: “I am the only one missing”.
*National Congressman 2023-2028
Cover Image: Chamber of Deputies of Paraguay