Polls & Research
Archive Search
Lugo Barely Ahead as Paraguay Vote Looms
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Former Catholic bishop Fernando Lugo and running mate Federico Franco hold a slight advantage over the ruling party’s ticket in Paraguay, according to a poll by ICA. 30.9 per cent of respondents would vote for the Alliance for Change (APC) contenders in this month’s presidential election, while 30.1 would back Blanca Ovelar and Carlos Santacruz of the ruling National Republican Association - Red Party (ANR).
Lino Oviedo and Nicolás Luthold of the National Union of Ethical Citizens (UNACE) are third with 21.4 per cent, followed by Pedro Fadul and Roberto Dietze of the Beloved Homeland Party (PPQ) with 3.6 per cent.
Nicanor Duarte won the April 2003 presidential election as the ANR candidate with 37.1 per cent of all cast ballots. The ANR has been involved in Paraguay’s government since 1947, even during the dictatorship of Alfredo Stroessner. Duarte is not eligible for a new term.
In 1998, Oviedo was charged, convicted and sentenced for mutiny over an alleged coup against the government of Juan Carlos Wasmosy in April 1996. In October 2007, Paraguay’s Supreme Court annulled Oviedo’s conviction in a 6-3 decision, stating that his actions did not amount to mutiny, and effectively clearing him to take part in the presidential election. In September 2007, Lugo oversaw the creation of the APC—which brings together seven opposition parties.
On Apr. 3, the four presidential candidates took part in a debate. Lugo said he would reform existing guidelines to eradicate the "unfair structures of production and labour." Ovelar vowed to increase private investment in infrastructure projects. Oviedo discussed his views on corruption, saying, "Only with the proper training of public servants will bribery be eliminated."
The election is scheduled for Apr. 20. Presidential candidates in Paraguay are not compelled to garner more than 50 per cent of the vote in order to win the election.
Polling Data
Which ticket would you vote for in the presidential election?
|
Mar. 30 |
Mar. 16 |
|
|
Fernando Lugo / Federico Franco (APC) |
30.9% |
31.9% |
|
Blanca Ovelar / Carlos Santacruz (ANR) |
30.1% |
27.5% |
|
Lino Oviedo / Nicolás Luthold (UNACE) |
21.4% |
24.9% |
|
Pedro Fadul / Roberto Dietze (PPQ) |
3.6% |
4.6% |
|
Undecided |
14.0% |
11.1% |
Source: ICA
Methodology: Interviews to 2,810 Paraguayan adults, conducted from Mar. 17 to Mar. 30, 2008. Margin of error is 2.3 per cent.