Abstract

SANCHEZ GOMEZ, José Tomás. Constitutional re-founding in South America: The Failed Case of Paraguay in Comparative Perspective. Acad. (Asunción) [online]. 2025, vol.12, n.3, e1168.  Epub Sep 12, 2025. ISSN 2414-8938.  https://doi.org/10.30545/academo.2025.n3.1168.

This article examines the reasons why Fernando Lugo’s government in Paraguay (2008-2012) was unable to carry out a constitutional rewrite, unlike other political outsiders in the context of South America’s leftist shift, such as Hugo Chávez (Venezuela), Evo Morales (Bolivia), and Rafael Correa (Ecuador). Through a comparative case study, it examines the conditions that limited the prospects of a constituent process in Paraguay, despite debate on its feasibility. The article demonstrates that, although Lugo was an outsider with similarities to other South American cases, he faced greater constraints than his counterparts due to the lack of strong social protests in support of a constituent assembly in Paraguay. The study underscores the importance of social mobilizations and intra-party dynamics in shaping constitutional processes in the region.

Keywords : Constitutional reform; protests; parties; Paraguay; Fernando Lugo.

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