Colorado Party (Paraguay)

For the Uruguayan party of the same name, see Colorado Party (Uruguay).

Colorado Party Asociación Nacional Republicana – Partido Colorado
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President	Lilian Samaniego
Founder	Bernardino Caballero
Founded	September 11, 1887 (1887-09-11)
Headquarters	25 de Mayo N° 842 c/ Tacuary, Asunción
Ideology	Neoliberalism Liberal conservatism National conservatism
Political position	Right-wing
International affiliation	International Democrat Union
Regional affiliation	Union of Latin American Parties
Colours	Red, white
Chamber of Deputies	44 / 80
Senate	19 / 45
Party flag
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Website
www.anr.org.py
Politics of Paraguay Political parties Elections

The National Republican Association – Colorado Party (Spanish: Asociación Nacional Republicana – Partido Colorado, ANR-PC) is a right-wing political party in Paraguay, founded on September 11, 1887, by Bernardino Caballero. The presidential candidate of the party was defeated in elections held in April 2008 after 61 years in power, but the party regained the presidency in the 2013 presidential election.

History

1887–1989

It initially ruled the country from 1887 until 1904. In 1946, it rejoined the government, together with the Febreristas, during Higinio Moríñigo's rule as President of Paraguay.

From 1947 until 1962, the Colorado Party ruled Paraguay as a one-party state; all other political parties were illegal. In 1962, all national parties were nominally legalized; the Communist Party being deemed "international" remained illegal and its adherents repressed by the Paraguayan state.

In practice, however, Paraguay remained a one-party military dictatorship until the overthrow of longtime president Alfredo Stroessner in 1989. It served as one of the "twin pillars" of Stroessner's 35-year rule, one of the longest in history by a non-royal leader.

1989–present

In 2002 the National Union of Ethical Citizens split from the party.

At the legislative elections of 27 April 2003, the party won 35.3% of the popular vote and 37 out of 80 seats in the Chamber of Deputies of Paraguay and 32.9%, leading to 16 out of 45 seats in the Senate. Its candidate at the presidential elections of the same day, Nicanor Duarte, won 37.1% of the popular vote and was elected President of Paraguay.

Originally, the Colorado Party was conservative, representing those opposed to the Liberal Party.

On April 20, 2008, for the first time in 61 years, the Colorado Party lost the presidential elections to an opposition candidate from the centre-left, Fernando Lugo, a Roman Catholic bishop, a first on both accounts (free election of an opposition candidate and of a bishop to the office of president in Paraguay). The Colorado Party was represented in these elections by Blanca Ovelar, the first woman to run for the presidency. Fernando Lugo, who had resigned his Bishophood and Priesthood before the elections so that he could become eligible in Parguayan law, was formally released of his vows by the Vatican before his installation as President on 15 August 2008.

External links

• ANR – Partido Colorado