Infighting in Paraguay poll court worries OAS

[Judi Lynn]

Infighting in Paraguay poll court worries OAS
Web posted at: 4/13/2008 8:29:32
Source ::: Reuters

ASUNCION • Infighting at Paraguay’s top electoral court has created a “very delicate situation” before this month’s presidential vote, the head of a monitoring team from the Organization of American States (OAS) said.

The court has been roiled by accusations from its only opposition member, Alberto Ramirez, that his two colleagues planned to shun him so they could swing the vote in favor of the ruling Colorado Party, which has held power in the poor South American country for more than 60 years.

The conflict peaked this week when a ruling party senator accused Ramirez of having plagiarized part of his doctoral dissertation in 2000. One fellow judge demanded Ramirez resign but he refused, saying the probe was politically motivated.

“This is a very delicate situation,” Maria Emma Mejia, a former Colombian foreign minister who will head the OAS mission monitoring Paraguay’s April 20 election, said in a telephone interview late on Friday.

“I’m worried about the lack of collegiality because, in the end, these judges will be the ones to tell us who will be the next president.” The tribunal is charged with denouncing ballot fraud.

More:
http://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/Display_news.asp?section=World_News&subsection=Americas&month=April2008&file=World_News2008041382932.xml