Paraguay’s Vice President Hugo Velazquez announced his resignation on Friday and pulled out of the running for next year’s presidential election after he was sanctioned by Washington for “significant corruption.”
The US State Department had earlier released a statement from Secretary of State Antony Blinken saying Velazquez would be barred from entering the United States due to his “involvement in significant corruption, including bribery of a public official and interference in public processes.”
Velazquez was hoping to stand for election next year as Paraguay’s presidents including the current leader Mario Abdo Benitez are limited to a single five-year term.
According to Velazquez, the decision to step aside is not affect the president” or their Colorado Party
But he is retiring from politics and it is the last stage of his career.
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.
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