Paraguay & Mercosur

Paraguay and Mercosur

We feel readers outside the Mercosur region ought to better understand where Paraguay stands vis-à-vis Mercosur and also with regard to Venezuela. We shall endeavour to make our explanation as simple as possible. Not an easy task.

In June of 2012 Paraguay was “suspended” from Mercosur. An extremely serious punishment for a Member State. At the time, Venezuela (still not a full-fledged member), Brazil and Argentina adduced that Paraguay had ousted their president by means of a “coup”. In fact, the Paraguayan Parliament had followed the formal procedures established by law, even if the actual process might have looked rather hasty at the time. Mercosur in turn did not follow the full Mercosur procedure instituted to deal with cases as the one adduced. Thus Paraguay was “suspended” from Mercosur and a “door” was opened for the full membership of Venezuela.

It must be stated that full membership within Mercosur requires the approval by all the established Member States’ parliaments. In June of last year the Paraguayan Senate had yet not sanctioned Venezuela’s incorporation. It is worth bearing in mind that to date they have still not voted in Venezuela’s favour.

Between June of last year and August of 2013 a provisional president took office in Paraguay. Mercosur declared that once a new president was elected by means of free elections, Paraguay would be “reincorporated”.

However, even if the new president showed from day one good will towards his Mercosur partners and also towards Venezuela, Paraguay demands legal procedures be strictly followed both at home as within Mercosur. In this respect, Paraguay considers Venezuela is still not a full-fledged member of Mercosur and that their country is still temporary out.

To make this clear, their Minister of Foreign Affairs stated in early September that “two proposals are being taken into consideration to find a way out for the present situation of Venezuela within Mercosur”. And he added that “in due course we will put the legal proposal on the table; politics will show the will to carry this legal process forward”. However, the Ministry issued a communication to governmental top bodies to make sure no administrative decision might be issued in advance of the formal definition at the highest level.

When there is a will, there is always a way.

We do hope the above has added more light than puzzlement!