Vice President of Paraguay Hugo Velázquez.

Photo: Reuters.

The Vice President of Paraguay, Hugo Velázquez,

which sparked a scandal in the South American country.

He also abandoned the presidential candidacy of the ruling Colorado Party, which he headed with a view to the general elections in Paraguay that will be held next year.

"I am resigning because I have to prove my innocence," he

said in an interview with ABC Cardinal radio, in which he anticipated that his departure from the government will become official next week.

The resignation took place minutes after the Secretary of State of the United States, Antony Blinken, denounced that Velázquez and the legal adviser of the binational entity Yacyretá (EBY), Juan Carlos Duarte, are being investigated for their alleged participation in "acts of corruption significant".

According to the indictment, Duarte, "a close personal and professional collaborator of Vice President Velázquez," would have offered "a bribe to a Paraguayan public official to 

 and his financial interests."

In response, Velázquez proclaimed his innocence and assured that he is completely unaware of the legal case.

"I don't have the faintest idea because I'm not investigated in any file, 

 I never ordered anything to be offered in any file that I don't even know about," he said.

However, he acknowledged that, if the United States defines him as "significantly corrupt", he has no chance of remaining in government, much less of being a presidential candidate and aspiring to win the elections.

"How would I have the moral authority to continue in a team that works for causes and principles?" he questioned.

Velázquez regretted, on the other hand, that Washington has included his three children and his wife, Lourdes Samaniego, on the list, who is also deputy attorney general, a position that he will also have to resign to face the complaint.

He also warned that he has to take care of the relationship between the governments of Paraguay and the United States

.

"I always considered myself an ally of the Americans, I am going to seek access to the documents so that I can defend myself," he anticipated.

President Mario Abdo Benítez, for his part, welcomed the resignation, considering that Velázquez showed a mature attitude by prioritizing "the interests and credibility" of the nation.

In the midst of the political commotion, he assured that

(Taken from RT in Spanish)