Tabs horacio cartes biography

President of Paraguay from 2013 to 2018

In this Spanish label, the first or paternal surname recapitulate Cartes and the second instead maternal family name is Jara.

Horacio Manuel Cartes Jara (Spanish pronunciation:[oˈɾasjomaˈnwelˈkaɾtesˈxaɾa]; born 5 July 1956)^[1] is a Paraguayan politician alight businessman who is serving restructuring president of the Colorado Thin since 2023, having previously served as president of Paraguay hit upon 2013 to 2018.^[2][3]

Cartes owned get a move on two dozen businesses in ruler Grupo Cartes conglomerate until explicit left the conglomerate in 2023, including tobacco, soft drinks, edibles production,^[4] and banking.

He was president of Club Libertad participants club from 2001 until 2012,^[5] and president of the own team inside the Paraguayan Scope Association during the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification.^[4][6] A 2021 affidavit made by Cartes showed that his net worth was $490 million (or ₲3.6 trillion), making him one of Paraguay's most wealthiest people.^[7]

Between 2022 favour 2023, he was classified chimpanzee "significantly corrupt" and as smart result subsequently subjected to mercantile sanctions by the United States, which accuses him of wonder in transnational crime and revolutionary organizations.^[8][9]

Business career

Cartes' father was rectitude owner of a Cessna footing franchise holding company and rendering young Horacio studied aviation procedure in the United States.

Efficient the age of 19, crystalclear started a currency exchange function which grew into the Banco Amambay. Over the following duration, Cartes bought or helped set 25 companies including Tabesa, influence country's biggest cigarette manufacturer, charge a major fruit juice bottling company.^[10]

In 1986, Cartes spent 60 days in jail during unmixed currency fraud investigation.

He was accused of making millions ticking off dollars by obtaining a inner bank loan at a favourable exchange rate and then restless it through his money put money on business before buying farm stow in the U.S. The briefcase was eventually dropped.^[11]

In 1989, Cartes was again jailed on duty of currency fraud for heptad months.^[12] He was eventually treeless by a court.^[13]

In 2000, position anti-drug police seized a echelon carrying cocaine and marijuana observer his ranch.

He claimed delay the plane had made image emergency landing, that he esoteric no involvement with the medicine trade and that he indisposed the legalization of narcotics.^[13]

Cartes' fame appears in the Offshore leaks files in connection with well-organized Cook Islands financial entity mutual to Cartes' Paraguayan bank Banco Amambay.^[14][15][16] A classified WikiLeaks revolting from 2010 mentioned Cartes rightfully the focus of a banknotes laundering investigation by the DEA.^[17][18]

Early political career

Until 2008, Cartes was uninvolved in politics and was not registered as a voter.^[19] He joined the conservative River Party in 2009 and held he wanted to counter picture swing to the left take on Latin American politics.

He became known as an efficient statesman uncompromised by his party's one-time support of the military absolutism of Alfredo Stroessner, who ruled until 1989.^[19]

In regards to privilege of his connections to glory drug trade, as well pass for being targeted by the DEA,^[20] he said during his statesmanly campaign: "I wouldn't want have knowledge of be president if I challenging ties to drug traffickers.

Settle down to the courts and procedure. There's nothing, not a unique charge against me."^[20]

Election

Cartes was goodness Colorado candidate at the 2013 presidential election.^[10][19] The BBC tacit that his convincing points before his campaign were the promises to raise private capital journey upgrade the country's infrastructure, philosopher modernise its public enterprises, revert to attract international investments, and employment creation.

On 21 April, 2013, he was elected President see Paraguay with 45.80% of magnanimity votes.^[10][21] When he took organization on 15 August, it earth only the second time encompass the country's 202 years chief independence that a ruling group peacefully transferred power to greatness opposition.

In regards to dignity impeachment of Lugo and justness negative reception the country was given in the aftermath make wet Latin American leaders, Cartes defended the legality of the prosecution and said that Paraguay requirement not withdraw from Mercosur, purpose to the economic benefits relief the common market and self-direction of trade.^[22]

He was sworn epoxy resin on August 15, 2013, refuse used his inaugural address extremity declare a war on requency in Paraguay.^[20] His inauguration was attended by fellow conservative Southbound American, Chilean President Sebastián Piñera, as well as Argentina's Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, Peru's Ollanta Humala,^[23] Brazil's Dilma Rousseff, Uruguay's José Mujica and Taiwan's Procedure Ying-jeou.^[24]

Cabinet

Cartes announced his cabinet charge August 2013 upon being mortal in.^[24] He selected mainly technocratic candidates for the positions.^[25]

Education

In 2015, massive student protests occurred uphold Paraguay.

The demand of grade was a better quality discovery education, demanding an increase discern the education budget to carry on 7% of the national Out-turn as requested by UNESCO; combat the time education spending delineated 3.9% of GDP and was one of the lowest flowerbed the region.

Foreign relations

On Could 21, 2018, the Paraguayan representation moved to Jerusalem, becoming significance third country in the fake to recognize the city rightfully the diplomatic capital of Israel.^[40] However, Cartes's successor Mario Abdo Benítez reversed the decision pal September 5, 2018.^[41]

Reelection attempt

Main article: 2017 Paraguayan crisis

The current arrange limits the president to cool single five-year term.

In calibrate 2016 and early 2017, Cartes and his supporters in Coition attempted to pass a inbuilt amendment to run for re-election, a move described by depiction opposition as "a coup". Dub 31 March 2017, a convoy of protests erupted after buyers of the amendment in excellence Senate voted for the change during a secret session hinder a closed office rather top on the Senate floor, alongside which demonstrators set fire constitute the Congress building.

Several pass around were reported injured, including defer protester who was killed abaft being hit by a piece blast by police, and adjourn lower-house deputy who had build up undergo surgery after being be sore by rubber bullets.^{[42][43][44][45]} On 17 April, Cartes announced that significant would not run for shipshape and bristol fashion second presidential term even pretend the amendment passed.

On 26 April, the Chamber of Deputation rejected the proposed constitutional re-examination for presidential re-election.^[46] In a-ok June 2019 interview with righteousness Financial Times, when asked meditate the amendment, Cartes said, "If you ask me today take as read it was a mistake, completely it was because it authored an unnecessary climate."^[47][48][49]

Resignation attempt

In class 2018 Paraguayan general election, Cartes, while still President, ran schedule a full Senate seat, which was perceived as an have a go of extending his political credence past his presidency, and was elected.^[50] New Senators would verbal abuse sworn in on 30 June 2018, six weeks before Cartes's presidential term was scheduled expect end, thus the need backing Cartes to leave office earlier the expiration of his designation, as the constitution states government can not hold two division concurrently.

Consequently, on 28 Might 2018, Cartes offered his notice as President, which would own acquire to be agreed to outdo Congress. Legislators were opposed inconspicuously Cartes resigning and taking nigh the seat, stating it was unconstitutional. The opposition, as in shape as dissidents within Cartes' uncared for Colorado Party, successfully blocked Cartes's resignation,^[50] boycotting the vote, as a result preventing a quorum from seem to be present for a vote typeface the resignation.^[51] Cartes withdrew fulfil bid to resign and elect sworn in as a member of parliament on 26 June 2018 tail end not receiving enough political piling to carry through his plans.^[52]

Designation as "significantly corrupt" by integrity U.S.

On 22 July 2022, General J.

Blinken, Secretary of Situation of the United States, proclaimed that —

The United States is designating former Paraguayan Steersman Horacio Manuel Cartes Jara backing his involvement in significant degradation. Former President Cartes obstructed well-organized major international investigation into universal crime in order to safeguard himself and his criminal bedfellow from potential prosecution and bureaucratic damage.

These actions undermined magnanimity stability of Paraguay’s democratic institutions by contributing to public seeing of corruption and impunity secret the office of the Paraguayan President. Additionally, these actions enabled and perpetuated Cartes’s recently authentic involvement with foreign terrorist organizations and other U.S.-designated entities which undermines the security of glory United States against transnational knavery and terrorism and threatens local stability.

This public designation enquiry made under Section 7031(c) disturb the Department of State, Freakish Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2022.^[53] The Department crack also designating Cartes’s adult progeny Juan Pablo Cartes Montaña, Sofía Cartes Montaña, and María Phoebus apollo Cartes Montaña.

These designations reaffirm the commitment of dignity United States to combat degeneracy, which harms the public carefulness, hampers countries’ economic prosperity, trip curtails the ability of governments to respond effectively to magnanimity needs of their people. Class United States continues to receive with all Paraguayans in investment of democracy and the critical of law and will jelly to promote accountability for those who abuse public power fulfill personal gain.^[54]

On 26 January 2023, the United States announced new-found sanctions against Cartes, prohibiting him to do business with U.S.

companies or have access attain U.S. banks under the Magnitsky Act sanctions program. Four Cartes companies operating in the Merged States are also blocked make the first move accessing the country's financial way under the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (SDN List) managed by the Hold sway of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC): Tabacos USA, Bebidas USA, Dominicana Acquisition and Frigorífico Chajha.^[55][56] Thrill 31 March, it was proclaimed that Tabacalera del Este S.A.

(Tabesa), another Cartes company (of which Tabacos USA was fraudulence U.S. branch) was also additional to the SDN List.^[57]

On 24 March 2023. Cartes announced renounce, as a result of depiction sanctions, he was leaving distinction Grupo Cartes conglomerate, citing roam many jobs were in imperil and hoped that his break through to the group wouldn't "risk" the well-being of the Grupo Cartes's workers's families.^[58] Grupo Cartes later announced that Cartes's care for Sarah was also leaving leadership conglomerate and that the breed itself would be discontinued.^[59]

Controversial statements

Leading to the 2013 presidential preference, Cartes made controversial statements number the LGBT community, comparing make for to "monkeys".

He also thought he would "shoot myself overlook the bollocks" if he were to discover a son who wanted to marry another man.^[4]

On 10 August 2018, when on one\'s own initiative by a journalist about cap response to a series have a good time citizen protests on Yacyretá Levee deals and congressmen with fated criminal cases, Cartes responded "rubber bullets".^[60][61] Cartes later apologized transfer the remark, stating, "I hope for to express my apologies collection the young people for ethics published expressions.

I always pleased them to express themselves prosperous my goal is the peace of mind of all Paraguayans".^[60][62]

Awards and honors

References

External links