paraguay
H.E. MARIO ABDO BENÍTEZ
PRESIDENT OF PARAGUAY
H
.E. Mario Abdo Benítez is a Paraguayan politician,
born on 10th November 1971 in Asuncion, the capital
of Paraguay. In April 2018, Benitez won the 2018
elections by defeating Efraín Alegre with 46.46 percent of
the votes to 42.73 percent.
Politics is not something new in Benitez’s life since his
father was a private secretary of the Paraguayan dictator
Alfredo Stroessner for 25 years. He began his academic
training, at the San Andrés School (1976-1989) GED Test
USA (1989) where he completed his primary and secondary
education. He pursued his university studies at Teikyo Post
University, Connecticut, USA (1995), obtaining a Bachelor’s
Degree in Marketing.
In 1989, he received training from the Armed Forces of
the Nation obtaining the title of Sub-Lieutenant of Reserve
Aviation and in turn was appointed by the Command of
Aeronautics, Military Paratrooper.
He took his fi rst steps in politics in 2005 as a member
of the Republican National Reconstruction movement. He
later became a member of the Peace and Progress movement
and won the Vice Presidency of the Colorado Party in 2005.
He also executed a series of activities in a responsible,
committed and successful manner in the private sector. During
the period from 1997-2012, he was Chairman of the Board
of Storage and Distribution Company of Asphalts S.A.”,
Aldia S.A,” where he executed National and International
transport operations with the help of Own Fleet from Brazil
and Argentina thereby, fulfilling the responsibilities of
strategic planning, fi nance and audit. He was also involved
in the development and implementation of strategic planning,
annual budget, billing control, imports and sales, and control
of accounts to collect and pay.
In 2013, he was elected to the Senate and became known
as a close ally of outgoing President Horacio Cartes. He was
then elected leader of the Colorado caucus in the Senate, a
position he held for the 2015-2016 legislative session.
In June 2017, he announced his candidacy for the
presidency of the Colorado Party and faced off against
another strong contender, Santiago Pena. On Dec. 17, 2017,
Benitez defeated Pena and won the primary from Colorado
Party members.
In his inaugural speech, Abdo Benítez said “We will build
an independent justice system, to end impunity and corruption
in our country, impunity is cancer we must defeat. For how
long are our people going to endure a relentless justice, which
is rigid to the poorest citizens, but pleasant to the ones who
have infl uence?”
“We have the opportunity and the obligation to retake the
people’s trust. We are all anxious to live in a better country,
a fairer and more solidary Paraguay. I can feel there is
citizenship willing to make history,” he added.
The 46-year-old is committed to take a law-and-order
stance and implement business-friendly policies. Paraguay
has enjoyed strong economic growth in recent years.
References:
https://maritoabdo.com/biografi a/
http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-04/23/c_137131253.htm
https://www.chiletoday.cl/who-is-mario-abdo-benitez-paraguays-new-president/
https://latinamericanpost.com/22703-paraguay-everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-new-president-mario-abdo-benitez
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mario_Abdo_Ben%C3%ADtez
6 • PARAGUAY 2019