Bloggings by boz

Paraguayan President Lugo responding to a journalist's question about coup rumors yesterday:

"I can assure you as commander in chief of the armed forces that, institutionally, there is no danger of a military coup.... There could be small military groups that are connected to or could be used by the political class, but institutionally, the military does not show any intent of reversing the process of democratic consolidation."

Any time there are strong enough rumors of a coup that a president has to publicly deny them, it's not a good sign. Lugo's answer wasn't the most confident I've ever heard.

Today, without stating a reason, Lugo fired all of the top military commanders and replaced them. It's the fourth time in his term he has done so.

On Monday, Venezuela's ambassador to Paraguay claimed that the right-wing was plotting a coup. The US embassy, asked by the media, said they had no knowledge of coup plots.

These events come on top of constant tensions between the president and the Paraguayan Congress (there was a suggestion of impeachment last week) as well difficulties with his own vice president.

UPDATE (5 Nov): The new military commanders begin today. Adding to the tension, a formal general relieved of his command early in Lugo's administration was quoted in the media saying the Armed Forces do not respect Lugo. However, he also said that the Armed Forces are committed to the institutions of government and criticized Lugo for using coup rumors to his political advantage. That same article details a verbal battle between Lugo and a Navy admiral and says Lugo was concerned the former military commanders are aligning politically with the opposition.

Another former general was quoted as saying Lugo has left the military without leadership, that he doesn't understand the Armed Forces and that his advisers are serving him poorly in dealing with the military.