Paraguay - Government
Based on the etymolgy of Paraguay, it was the precise meaning of the name Paraguay is unclear, but it seems to derive from the river of the same name; one explanation has the name meaning "water of the Payagua" (an indigenous tribe that lived along the river). The Government system in this country is the presidential republic type and the different Administrative divisions includes: 17 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento) and 1 capital city*; Alto Paraguay, Alto Parana, Amambay, Asuncion*, Boqueron, Caaguazu, Caazapa, Canindeyu, Central, Concepcion, Cordillera, Guaira, Itapua, Misiones, Neembucu, Paraguari, Presidente Hayes, San Pedro
National symbols
Lion; national colors: red, white, blue.
The flag
The National flag of Paraguay has three equal, horizontal bands of red (top), white, and blue with an emblem centered in the white band; unusual flag in that the emblem is different on each side; the obverse (hoist side at the left) bears the national coat of arms (a yellow five-pointed star within a green wreath capped by the words REPUBLICA DEL PARAGUAY, all within two circles); the reverse (hoist side at the right) bears a circular seal of the treasury (a yellow lion below a red Cap of Liberty and the words PAZ Y JUSTICIA (Peace and Justice)); red symbolizes bravery and patriotism, white represents integrity and peace, and blue denotes liberty and generosity.
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note: the three color bands resemble those on the flag of the Netherlands; one of only three national flags that differ on their obverse and reverse sides - the others are Moldova and Saudi Arabia
The National Anthem
| Title | "Paraguayos, Republica o muerte!" (Paraguayans, The Republic or Death!) |
|---|---|
| Lyric/music | Francisco Esteban ACUNA de Figueroa/disputed |
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note: adopted 1934, in use since 1846; officially adopted following its re-arrangement in 1934
More about the government of Paraguay
| Date of Independence | 14-15 May 1811 (from Spain); note - the uprising against Spanish authorities took place during the night of 14-15 May 1811 and both days are celebrated in Paraguay |
|---|---|
| National holiday | Independence Day, 14-15 May (1811) (observed 15 May); 14 May is celebrated as Flag Day |
| Legal system | civil law system with influences from Argentine, Spanish, Roman, and French civil law models; judicial review of legislative acts in Supreme Court of Justice |
| International law organization participation | accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction |
| Constitution | |
| History | Several previous; latest approved and promulgated 20 June 1992 |
| Amendments | Proposed at the initiative of at least one quarter of either chamber of the National Congress, by the president of the republic, or by petition of at least 30,000 voters; passage requires a two-thirds majority vote by both chambers and approval in a referendum; amended 2011 |
| Citizenship | |
| Citizenship by birth | yes |
| Citizenship by descent only | at least one parent must be a native-born citizen of Paraguay |
| Dual citizenship recognized | yes |
| Residency requirement for naturalization | 3 years |
| Executive Branch | |
| Chief of state | President Santiago PEÑA Palacios (since 15 August 2023) |
| Head of government | President Santiago PEÑA Palacios (since 15 August 2023) |
| Cabinet | Council of Ministers appointed by the president |
| Elections/appointments | president and vice president directly elected on the same ballot by simple majority popular vote for a single 5-year term; election last held on 30 April 2023 (next to be held in April 2028) |
| Election results | 2023: Santiago PEÑA Palacios elected president; percent of vote - Santiago PEÑA Palacios (ANR) 43.9%, Efraín ALEGRE (PLRA) 28.3%, Paraguayo "Payo" CUBAS Colomés (PCN) 23.6%, other 4.2% 2018: Mario ABDO BENÍTEZ elected president; percent of vote - Mario ABDO BENÍTEZ (ANR) 49%, Efraín ALEGRE (PLRA) 45.1%, other 5.9% |
| Legislative branch | |
| Description | Bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists of: Chamber of Senators or Camara de Senadores (45 seats; members directly elected in a single nationwide constituency by closed-list proportional representation vote to serve 5-year terms) Chamber of Deputies or Camara de Diputados (80 seats; members directly elected in 18 multi-seat constituencies - corresponding to the country's 17 departments and capital city - by closed-list proportional representation vote to serve 5-year terms) |
| Elections | Chamber of Senators - last held on 30 April 2023 (next to be held in April 2028) Chamber of Deputies - last held on 30 April 2023 (next to be held in April 2028) |
| Election results | Chamber of Senators - percent of vote by party/coalition - ANR 45.7%, PLRA 24.4%, PCN 11.5%, PEN 5.2%, PPQ 2.5%, other 10.7%; seats by party/coalition - ANR 23, PLRA 12, PCN 5, PEN 2, PPQ 1, other 2; composition - men 34, women 11, percentage women 24.4% Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party/coalition - ANR 44%, PLRA 30.9%, PCN 8.3%, PPQ 3.6%, PEN 2.9%; other 10.3%; seats by party/coalition - ANR 49, PLRA 21, PCN 4, PEN 2, PPQ 1, other 3; compositio - men 61, women 19, percentage women 23.8%; note - total National Congress percentage women NA% |
| Judicial branch | |
| Highest court(s) | Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (consists of 9 justices divided 3 each into the Constitutional Court, Civil and Commercial Chamber, and Criminal Division) |
| Judge selection and term of office | Justices proposed by the Council of Magistrates or Consejo de la Magistratura, a 6-member independent body, and appointed by the Chamber of Senators with presidential concurrence; judges can serve until mandatory retirement at age 75 |
| Subordinate courts | Appellate courts; first instance courts; minor courts, including justices of the peace |
| Diplomatic representation in the US | |
| Chief of mission | Ambassador José Antonio DOS SANTOS BEDOYA (since 15 September 2021) |
| Chancery | 2209 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington DC 20008 |
| Telephone | [1] (202) 483-6960 |
| FAX | [1] (202) 234-4508 |
| Email address and website | [email protected] Embajada de la República del Paraguay ante los Estados Unidos de América :: The Embassy (mre.gov.py) |
| Consulate(s) general | Los Angeles, Miami, New York |
| Diplomatic representation from the US | |
| Chief of mission | Ambassador Marc OSTFIELD (since 9 March 2022) |
| Embassy | 1776 Mariscal Lopez Avenue, Asuncion |
| Mailing address | 3020 Asuncion Place, Washington DC 20521-3020 |
| Telephone | [595] (21) 248-3000 |
| FAX | [595] (21) 213-728 |
| Email address and website | [email protected] https://py.usembassy.gov/ |
| National heritage | |
| Total World Heritage Sites | 1 (cultural) |
| Selected World Heritage Site locales | Jesuit Missions of La Santísima Trinidad de Paraná and Jesús de Tavarangue |
Key Political parties and their leaders in Paraguay
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International organization participation
All Important Facts about Paraguay
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