Country name:
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conventional long form: Republic of Paraguay
conventional short form:
Paraguay
local long form:
Republica del Paraguay
local short form:
Paraguay
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Government type:
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constitutional republic
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Capital:
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name: Asuncion
geographic coordinates:
25 16 S, 57 40 W
time difference:
UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
daylight saving time:
+1hr, begins first Sunday in October; ends second Sunday in April
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Administrative divisions:
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17 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento) and 1 capital city*; Alto Paraguay, Alto Parana, Amambay, Asuncion*, Boqueron, Caaguazu, Caazapa, Canindeyu, Central, Concepcion, Cordillera, Guaira, Itapua, Misiones, Neembucu, Paraguari, Presidente Hayes, San Pedro
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Independence:
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14 May 1811 (from Spain)
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National holiday:
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Independence Day, 14 May 1811 (observed 15 May)
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Constitution:
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promulgated 20 June 1992
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Legal system:
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civil law system with influences from Argentine, Spanish, Roman, and French civil law models; judicial review of legislative acts in Supreme Court of Justice
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International law organization participation:
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accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age; universal and compulsory until the age of 75
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Executive branch:
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chief of state: President Luis Federico FRANCO Gomez (since 22 June 2012); Vice President Amancio Oscar DENIS Sanchez (since 28 June 2012); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government; President FRANCO assumed office following the impeachment of former President Fernando Armindo LUGO Mendez
head of government:
President Luis Federico FRANCO Gomez (since 22 June 2012); Vice President Amancio Oscar DENIS Sanchez (since 28 June 2012)
cabinet:
Council of Ministers appointed by the president
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections:
president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for a single five-year term; election last held on 20 April 2008 (next to be held in April 2013)
election results:
Fernando Armindo LUGO Mendez elected president; percent of vote - Fernando Armindo LUGO Mendez 40.8%, Blanca OVELAR 30.6%, Lino OVIEDO 21.9%, Pedro FADUL 2.4%, other 4.3%; note - President Luis Federico FRANCO Gomez assumed office following the impeachment of former President LUGO in June 2012
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Legislative branch:
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bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists of the Chamber of Senators or Camara de Senadores (45 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and the Chamber of Deputies or Camara de Diputados (80 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections:
Chamber of Senators - last held on 20 April 2008 (next to be held in April 2013); Chamber of Deputies - last held on 20 April 2008 (next to be held in April 2013)
election results:
Chamber of Senators - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - ANR 15, PLRA 14, UNACE 9, PPQ 4, other 3; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - ANR 30, PLRA 27, UNACE 15, PPQ 3, APC 2, other 3; note - as of 20 December 2012, the composition of the Chamber of Deputies is ANR 34, PLRA 29, UNACE 11, PPQ 4, other 2
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (nine judges proposed by the Council of Magistrates or Consejo de la Magistratura, and approved by the Senate and president)
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Political parties and leaders:
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Asociacion Nacional Republicana - Colorado Party or ANR [Lilian SAMANIEGO]; Avanza Pais coalition [Mario FERREIRO]; Broad Front coalition (Frente Guazu) or FG [Fernando Armindo LUGO Mendez]; Movimiento Popolar Tekojoja or Tekojoja [Sixto PEREIRA]; Movimiento Union Nacional de Ciudadanos Eticos or UNACE; Patria Querida (Beloved Fatherland Party) or PPQ [Sebastian ACHA]; Partido del Movimiento al Socialismo or P-MAS [Camilo Ernesto SOARES Machado]; Partido Democratica Progresista or PDP [Rafael Augusto FILIZZOLA Serra]; Partido Encuentro Nacional or PEN [Fernando CAMACHO Paredes]; Partido Liberal Radical Autentico or PLRA [Blas Antonio LLANO Ramos]; Partido Pais Solidario or PPS [Carlos Alberto FILIZZOLA Pallares]
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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Ahorristas Estafados or AE; National Coordinating Board of Campesino Organizations or MCNOC [Luis AGUAYO]; National Federation of Campesinos or FNC [Odilon ESPINOLA]; National Workers Central or CNT [Secretary General Juan TORRALES]; Paraguayan Workers Confederation or CPT; Roman Catholic Church; Unitary Workers Central or CUT [Jorge Guzman ALVARENGA Malgarejo]
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International organization participation:
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CAN (associate), CD, CELAC, FAO, G-11, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, LAIA, Mercosur (suspended), MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador Fernando Antonio PFANNL Caballero
chancery:
2400 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
[1] (202) 483-6960 through 6962
FAX:
[1] (202) 234-4508
consulate(s) general:
Los Angeles, Miami, New York
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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Ambassador James H. THESSIN
embassy:
1776 Avenida Mariscal Lopez, Casilla Postal 402, Asuncion
mailing address:
Unit 4711, DPO AA 34036-0001
telephone:
[595] (21) 213-715
FAX:
[595] (21) 213-728
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Flag description:
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three equal, horizontal bands of red (top), white, and blue with an emblem centered in the white band; unusual flag in that the emblem is different on each side; the obverse (hoist side at the left) bears the national coat of arms (a yellow five-pointed star within a green wreath capped by the words REPUBLICA DEL PARAGUAY, all within two circles); the reverse (hoist side at the right) bears a circular seal of the treasury (a yellow lion below a red Cap of Liberty and the words PAZ Y JUSTICIA (Peace and Justice)); red symbolizes bravery and patriotism, white represents integrity and peace, and blue denotes liberty and generosity
note:
the three color bands resemble those on the flag of the Netherlands; one of only three national flags that differ on their obverse and reverse sides - the others are Moldova and Saudi Arabia
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National symbol(s):
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lion
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National anthem:
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name: "Paraguayos, Republica o muerte!" (Paraguayans, The Republic or Death!)
lyrics/music:
Francisco Esteban ACUNA de Figueroa/disputed
note:
adopted 1934, in use since 1846; the anthem was officially adopted following its re-arrangement in 1934
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