Embattled Vice President of Paraguay, Hugo Velazquez on Saturday announced his resignation while also pulling out of the running for next year’s presidential election after he was sanctioned by Washington over what was described as ‘significant corruption.’
Africa Today News, New York gathered that the US State Department had earlier in the week earlier published a statement from Secretary of State Antony Blinken which indicated that Velazquez would be banned from entering the United States due to his ‘involvement in significant corruption, including bribery of a public official and interference in public processes.’
Since Paraguay’s presidents, like the current leader Mario Abdo Benitez, are only allowed to serve one five-year term, Velazquez hoped to run for office next year.
‘The decision to step aside is to not affect the president’ or their Colorado Party, Velazquez told 1080 AM radio station broadcast which was monitored by Africa Today News, New York.
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He went further to add; ‘I am retiring from politics. It was the last stage of my career. If it couldn’t happen, what are we to do?’
According to multiple reports, several family members were also sanctioned, as well as Juan Carlos Duarte, a close friend, and legal adviser to the company that runs the major Yacyreta hydroelectric power station.
Velazquez denied the US allegations and insisted he has ‘a clean conscience.’
He had been a candidate for the ruling Colorado Party’s December primaries ahead of next year’s election.
The US sanctions relate to Duarte offering ‘a bribe to a Paraguayan public official in order to obstruct an investigation that threatened the vice president and his financial interests,’ said Blinken.
Meanwhile, Washington is yet to react to the news of his decision to step aside from office.