2017 Paraguay crisis | |||
---|---|---|---|
![]() A constitutional amendment that would have allowed President of Paraguay Horacio Cartes to run for re-election led to the crisis | |||
Date | 31 March 2017 – 26 April 2017 | ||
Location | |||
Caused by | Signing of bill allowing presidential re-election | ||
Goals | Overturn bill allowing presidential re-election | ||
Resulted in |
| ||
Parties | |||
Lead figures | |||
Casualties | |||
Death(s) | 1 | ||
Injuries | 30+[citation needed] | ||
Arrested | 211[1] |
On 31 March 2017, a series of protests began in Paraguay, during which demonstrators set fire to the Congress building. The demonstrations occurred in response to a constitutional amendment that would permit President Horacio Cartes to run for re-election,[2] a move described by the opposition as "a coup".[3] One protester was killed in Paraguay's capital, Asunción, after being hit by a shotgun blast by police. Several protesters, politicians and journalists, as well as police, were reported injured, including one lower-house deputy who had to undergo surgery after being injured by rubber bullets.[4][5] On 17 April, President Cartes announced that he was resigning from any possible candidacy for a second presidential term. On 26 April, the Chamber of Deputies of Paraguay rejected the proposed constitutional amendment for presidential re-election.
NTN24
was invoked but never defined (see the help page).