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Mario Abdo Benítez

From Alfawiki
Mario Abdo Benítez
Born (1971-11-10) November 10, 1971 (age 55)
Asunción, Paraguay
OccupationPolitician
Years active2005–present
Known forPresident of Paraguay (2018–2023), President of the Senate of Paraguay (2015–2016)

Mario Abdo Benítez (; born 10 November 1971) is a Paraguayan political figure who held the office of the 51st president of Paraguay from 2018 until 2023. Prior to his presidency, he was a senator and presided over the Senate of Paraguay between 2015 and 2016.

Early life and education

Born in Asunción on 10 November 1971, Abdo Benítez is the son of Ruth Benítez Perrier and Mario Abdo Benítez Sr., who is of Lebanese heritage. His father belonged to the "Cuatrinomio de Oro", a group closely linked to then-President Alfredo Stroessner, who governed Paraguay for three and a half decades.

At age sixteen, Abdo Benítez relocated to the United States, where he obtained a marketing degree from Teikyo Post University in Waterbury, Connecticut. After completing high school in 1989, he enlisted in the Paraguayan Armed Forces, reaching the rank of Second Lieutenant in Reserve Aviation and earning the title of paratrooper from the Air Force Command.

Early political career

Abdo Benítez embarked on his political journey in 2005 by joining the Republican National Reconstruction movement. Subsequently, he became part of the Peace and Progress faction and was appointed Vice President of the Colorado Party that same year. In June 2015, he ascended to the presidency of the Senate of Paraguay.

His connections to the military dictatorship under Alfredo Stroessner have drawn criticism, given that his father served as Stroessner’s private secretary. In 2006, Abdo Benítez acted as a pallbearer at Stroessner’s funeral and proposed that the Colorado Party honor his legacy. The wealth he inherited originates from his father, who faced prosecution but was ultimately acquitted of illicit enrichment charges following the dictatorship’s collapse. While Abdo Benítez recognizes Stroessner’s contributions to Paraguay, he simultaneously condemns the regime’s violations of human rights.

Election

In December 2017, Abdo Benítez secured victory in the Colorado Party presidential primaries by defeating former Finance Minister Santiago Peña, receiving 564,811 votes (50.93%) compared to Peña’s 480,114 (43.29%). He then triumphed over Efraín Alegre in the 2018 Paraguayan general election held in April 2018, garnering 46.46% of votes against Alegre’s 42.73%. At age 46, he became Paraguay’s youngest president since Alfredo Stroessner assumed office in 1954.

His inauguration took place on August 15, 2018; notably, his predecessor Horacio Cartes, with whom he had experienced tensions, was absent.

Domestic policy

Benítez prioritized judicial reforms aimed at combating corruption. Similar to his rival Alegre, he opposed both abortion legalization and same-sex marriage but showed willingness to engage in discussions regarding abortion.

In mid-2019, his administration confronted an impeachment threat after signing an energy agreement with Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro concerning the Itaipu Dam, which was perceived as disadvantageous for Paraguay; however, he revoked the agreement, thereby avoiding a political crisis.

On economic matters, his government maintained longstanding policies that favored large landowners. A tax reform bill passed through Congress in September 2019. Nevertheless, Paraguay entered a recession during that year.

After one year in office, Benítez's popularity was notably low—with an August 2019 disapproval rating reaching 69.3%—which gave rise to the expression "Desastre ko Marito" ("Marito is a disaster"). This phrase gained widespread recognition through merchandise and public discourse; Benítez has occasionally acknowledged it with humor.

By June 2022, negative assessments had risen further, with approximately 81% rating him unfavorably and around 70% expressing that Paraguay required significant reforms.

Foreign policy

In September 2018, Benítez reversed the prior administration's directive to relocate Paraguay's embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, citing the absence of prior consultation and expressing his intent to back regional and global diplomatic initiatives aimed at fostering peace in the Middle East. This decision led to strained relations with Israel, which subsequently shut down its embassy in Paraguay.

By January 2019, he had cut diplomatic relations with Venezuela and acknowledged opposition figure Juan Guaidó as the legitimate president, extending an invitation for Guaidó to visit the presidential palace in Asunción.

Cajubi

In October 2018, Benítez announced that the Itaipu Binational Pension and Retirement Fund (Cajubi) had obtained a Canadian court order permitting the seizure of assets worth 21.6 million Canadian dollars (approximately US$17 million) from parties implicated in what has been termed "the theft of the century." He framed this legal victory as part of the administration’s firm stance against corruption and impunity, emphasizing ongoing efforts to reclaim nearly all misappropriated funds.

Julio Romero, president of Cajubi, confirmed the asset confiscation involving Eduardo García Obregón and others named in the civil litigation. Romero detailed plans to extend asset recovery efforts across Canada, the United States, Guatemala, and additional jurisdictions to maximize restitution. He also underscored the fund’s actuarial shortfall and stressed the urgent necessity to stabilize finances ahead of anticipated difficulties by 2025.

On June 19, 2019, Paraguay’s Chamber of Deputies formally requested that Cajubi’s leadership submit documentation related to investments connected to the scandal. Romero responded by clarifying that Cajubi is a private entity and therefore not obligated to comply with such demands.

In March 2020, Finance Minister Benigno López—appointed by Benítez—initiated the establishment of a Superintendency of Pensions and Retirement Benefits tasked with overseeing pension fund contributions. This measure was designed to prevent financial losses similar to those suffered by Cajubi, which totaled $130 million.

In May 2021, Foreign Minister Euclides Acevedo engaged with the British Ambassador to Paraguay to advance extradition proceedings for Marcelo Barone and Elisabel Vasquez, London-based individuals linked to approximately USD 40 million connected to Cajubi’s investments—the central element of the so-called "heist of the century."

Personal life

His first marriage was with Fátima María Díaz, with whom he fathered two sons. Following their divorce, he wed Silvana López Moreira, and they have one son together.

Honours

On October 8, 2018, Benítez was awarded the Order of Brilliant Jade with Grand Cordon by President of the Republic of China Tsai Ing-wen. During the ceremony, Tsai acknowledged Benítez's father’s significant contribution to establishing Paraguay–Taiwan diplomatic relations. Later, on January 19, 2023, he received the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic with Grand Cordon from the Italian President.

Foreign

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