The relationship of leadership and the legitimizing demands of Paraguayan democratic precariousness

Abstract

This study seeks to understand why Fernando Lugo's responses to the demands that led to the 2012 crisis removed him from the national Executive but maintained his leadership space. The central questions addressed refer to the role of Lugo's leadership and the centrality of his figure in Paraguayan politics since 2008, to understand the recent dynamics of the Paraguayan democratic regime based on the performance of that leadership. To achieve these objectives, the study uses the tools of discourse analysis of a focused and in-depth interview, semi-structured with a more closed script, carried out with former President Lugo. Discourse analysis is also used for some editorials of the ABC Color newspaper, to help understand the main demands that arose in the 2012 crisis scenario. Another methodological tool used is descriptive statistics, for data on land property ownership relationships and on Paraguayan political behavior. It will be observed that the two demands that legitimized the deposition of Lugo - security and sovereignty - and his way of acting - seeking to moderate and moving away from responses of force - were contrary to what was sought by the conservative coalition, positioning Lugo as his main opponent.