PARAGUAY: Parliament rejects privatisation

On June 30, the Paraguayan lower house, dominated by the ruling Colorado Party, unanimously voted down a bill calling for the privatisation of state-owned utilities that had been passed by the Senate. During the vote, the building was besieged by thousands who had been protesting for four days against the bill. Explaining the government's opposition to the bill, President Nicanor Duarte told presson June 29 that he favoured private investment in solvent public companies to outright sale or asset liquidation, because the latter would represent little money for the government, and no incentive for domestic economic growth.

From Green Left Weekly, July 13, 2005.

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From GLW issue 633