Paraguay counterinsurgency force is under threat

Significance

The Senate will hold a public hearing on the counterinsurgency unit, Fuerza de Tarea Conjunta (FTC), in Concepcion or Horqueta on September 2 and will formally debate a motion to shut it down on September 8.

Impacts

• The opposition will seek to make political capital from Cartes's greatest political failure, trying to show him as unfit for re-election.
• The most likely outcome is the introduction of some mechanism making the FTC a bit more accountable, both to Congress and the public.
• Nevertheless, corruption and human rights concerns will continue to affect the FTC's support and operational capacity.