Yolanda Paredes warns that Cartismo could repeat controversies linked to Hernán Rivas when choosing officials for Paraguay’s key oversight institutions.

Paraguayan Senator Yolanda Paredes has raised concerns about future appointments to key public institutions. She warned that the ruling Cartismo bloc could support controversial figures for important oversight positions.

Paredes used former senator Hernán Rivas as a political reference in her criticism. Rivas has faced a high-profile court case involving allegations over his law degree. Prosecutors accused him of offenses related to allegedly false public documents. The case later moved to an oral trial.

Paredes Questions Political Appointments

According to Paredes, political loyalty should not become the main requirement for major institutional positions. Instead, she argued that professional qualifications and independence must guide the selection process.

Her comments focused on appointments connected to institutions such as Paraguay’s Comptroller General’s Office and the Ombudsman’s Office. These bodies play an important role in public oversight. Therefore, their leadership can affect public confidence in state institutions.

Paredes has previously criticized the handling of the Rivas controversy. In April 2026, she described the situation surrounding his disputed qualifications as an attack on the rule of law and questioned how institutions responded to the controversy.

Hernán Rivas Case Remains a Political Reference

The Rivas case has become part of a wider debate about political appointments in Paraguay. Prosecutors allege that he used academic documents with false content before holding influential public positions. However, those allegations remain subject to the judicial process.

Moreover, testimony reported during his August 2026 trial highlighted the political circumstances surrounding his earlier appointment to the Jurado de Enjuiciamiento de Magistrados. Former deputy Hugo Ramírez said Rivas had been proposed following a political decision and that lawmakers understood him to be a lawyer.

For Paredes, the controversy serves as a warning about future selections. She argues that Paraguay needs qualified and independent officials in oversight institutions. As a result, the coming appointments could become another major political debate over transparency, qualifications and institutional credibility.