Conservative presidential candidate Santiago Pena won a major victory in Paraguay on April 30, strengthening the hold of the Colorado Party as a new wave of leftist leadership has emerged in the region over the past two years.
Beyond Paraguay’s borders, the geopolitical implications of the election win are significant. This is especially true for the ongoing U.S.-China struggle over prevailing influence in Latin America.
Taiwan’s last remaining diplomatic ally on the continent also hung on the election outcome. Leftist opposition, along with Paraguay’s agricultural and beef lobbies, have pushed for a switch of allegiance to China in recent months….