Paraguay’s long-ruling party romps to presidential victory

By DÉBORA REY
Associated Press

ASUNCION, Paraguay (AP) — Paraguay’s long-governing Colorado Party will remain the dominant force of the country’s politics as the vote count from Sunday’s election has given an overwhelming lead to its presidential candidate, Santiago Peña, with nearly all votes counted. With almost 99% of voting places reporting, Peña has 43% of the vote. That compares to 27% for the closest challenger, Efraín Alegre, the candidate of the Pact for a New Paraguay, a broad-based opposition coalition that hoped to end Colorado’s reign. Alegre has conceded defeat. Before the vote, analysts had said the race looked to be tight because of public discontent. They predicted Alegre could have a chance of unseating South America’s longest-governing party, which has essentially ruled Paraguay uninterrupted since 1947.