Outside the Beltway

Paraguay Suspended from MERCOSUR Over Lugo Impeachment

Steven L. Taylor · Saturday, June 30, 2012 · 1 comment

Via the BBC:  Mercosur suspends Paraguay over Lugo impeachment

The presidents of Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay said Paraguay would remain outside the bloc until the next presidential election in April.

But at the end of a two-day summit in Argentina they decided not to impose sanctions on Paraguay.

[…]

Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner said the bloc decided to suspend Paraguay “until a democratic process allows for popular sovereignty to be restored”.

[…]

Mr Lugo was impeached by the Senate after being given less than 24 hours to prepare his defence.

There is at least one practical ramification of that suspension:

They also announced that Venezuela would now become a full member of Mercosur.

Venezuela’s application to join the Mercosur as a permanent member had been approved by the bloc’s three other members, but blocked by the Paraguayan congress.

With Paraguay suspended, the doors were opened for Venezuela, South America’s main oil producer.