caravan through center of town
Disclaimer: I write this report as an observer, acknowledging that Peace Corps forbids me to have involvement in Paraguayan politics. But…
Change has come to a small pueblo in Paraguay!
This past Sunday was Election Day nationwide for intendente (mayor) and consejol /junta municipal (town council). In my site there were three candidates for intendente: the Colorado incumbent (red), Liberal challenger (blue) and a minor third party (color unknown!) After many years of a Colorado intendente, he was unseated by the female Liberal candidate.
election day
This was exciting for many community members. Polls closed at 5pm, and by 8, neighbors were setting off firecrackers and standing on sidewalks cheering as celebratory caravans cruised by honking. I stepped outside to watch, chatting up my neighbor. QUIEN GANÓ?! I screamed over a blaring car radio. LISTA DOS!!! he replied, pumping his fists overhead.
What’s the difference between the parties? Most people just say that the opposing party doesn’t do anything. Sounds familiar. So in reality, I’m not sure about ideological differences. I will spend the next couple of years investigating that further.
Elections are conducted a little differently here. Voters choose a list (lista), indicated by number – Lista Uno, Lista Dos, etc. The lista includes a mayoral candidate, and then in a priority order, the council members. The council positions are filled based on the percentage of votes the list wins. Therefore, the top x candidates may advance from the winning list, and the top x-y candidates advance from the losing list, in proportion to percentage of votes won.
My host dad Don Amado is the boss man at the local election board in town. It was his group’s responsibility to coordinate the individuals that would monitor and conduct a smooth day of voting.
Voting took place at a local elementary school. I went over with host mom to check it out. She asked me as a joke if I wanted to vote, to which I replied, “Peace Corps will send me a one-way ticket home.”
voting tables
Along the back patio of the school were 20-some tables. By last name, voters were directed to the appropriate table where they cast their votes on paper, and dipped a forefinger in ink to indicate their participation. Each table was monitored by three people. I’m not sure if voting is confidential, or what that was about.
Part of host dad’s office’s responsibility was to feed those who were working the voting tables. The money to pay for lunch came from the government, but the government can’t cook it. So he asked his lovely wife to cook. For 70-some people. She roasted chicken and prepared rice salad and mandioca.
assembly line + hermanita Celina
I was called in to help assemble the plates. And for my hard work, I too got to eat.
Over at the polling place, as I’m watching people buzzing around, others awaiting the results, I’m thinking, Wow this is impressive! I like seeing so many people excited about local politics. And then I get a text from a friend. “Just watched someone sell their vote…100mil.” That’s about 20 bucks. Any can you blame someone? Democracy does not equal food on the table for everyone.
Tags: Valenzuela, voting
