e divisions: 19 departments (departamentos,
singular--departamento); Alto Paraguay, Alto Parana, Amambay,
Boqueron, Caaguazu, Caazapa, Canindeyu, Central, Chaco,
Concepcion, Cordillera, Guaira, Itapua, Misiones, Neembucu,
Nueva Asuncion, Paraguari, Presidente Hayes, San Pedro

_#_Independence: 14 May 1811 (from Spain)

_#_Constitution 25 August 1967

_#_Legal system: based on Argentine codes, Roman law, and French
codes; judicial review of legislative acts in Supreme Court of Justice;
does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

_#_National holiday: Independence Days, 14-15 May (1811)

_#_Executive branch: president, Council of Ministers (cabinet),
Council of State

_#_Legislative branch: bicameral Congress (Congreso)
consists of an upper chamber or Chamber of Senators (Camara de
Senadores) and a lower chamber or Chamber of Deputies (Camara de
Diputados)

_#_Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de
Justicia)

_#_Leaders:

Chief of State and Head of Government--President Gen. Andres
RODRIGUEZ Pedotti (since 15 May 1989)

_#_Political parties and leaders:
Colorado Party, Luis Maria ARGANA, acting president;
Authentic Radical Liberal Party (PLRA), Juan Manuel BENITEZ Florentin;
Christian Democratic Party (PDC), Jorge Dario CRISTALDO;
Febrerista Revolutionary Party (PRF), Euclides ACEVEDO;
Popular Democratic Party (PDP), Hugo RICHER

_#_Suffrage: universal and compulsory at age 18 and up to age 60

_#_Elections:

President--last held 1 May 1989 (next to be held February 1993);
results--Gen. RODRIGUEZ 75.8%, Domingo LAINO 19.4%;

Chamber of Senators--last held 1 May 1989 (next to be held by
May 1993);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(36 total) Colorado Party 24, PLRA 10, PLR 1, PRF 1;

Chamber of Deputies--last held on 1 May 1989 (next to be held by
May 1994);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(72 total) Colorado Party 48, PLRA 19, PRF 2, PDC 1, PL 1, PLR 1

_#_Communists: Oscar Creydt faction and Miguel Angel SOLER faction
(both illegal); 3,000 to 4,000 (est.) party members and sympathizers in
Paraguay, very few are hard core; party beginning to return from exile is
small and deeply divided

_#_Other political or pressure groups: Confederation of Workers (CUT);
Roman Catholic Church

_#_Member of: AG (observer), CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES,
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