Paraguay: Benítez wins presidential election April 22 /update 2

Event

Official results indicate that Mario Abdo Benítez, candidate for the ruling conservative Colorado Party (PC), has won the April 22 Paraguayan presidential election. Opposition candidate Efraín Alegre of the center-left PLRA (Partido Liberal Radical Auténtico) did not concede the election on Sunday, saying that he would wait for the final vote count; however, officials from the Superior Court of Electoral Justice (TSJE) have said that with 96 percent of all votes counted (46.5 percent in favor of Benítez and 42.7 percent in favor of Alegre), there is no way for the remaining ballots to change the outcome of the election. Demonstrations both for and against the electoral results are possible in Asunción in the coming hours and days, although significant unrest is unlikely. No major disturbances were reported during Sunday's vote.

Context

Current President Horacio Cartes, in power since August 2013, was not eligible for reelection. Benítez will assume office on August 15.

Advice

Individuals in Paraguay are advised to keep abreast of the situation and avoid all protests as a precaution, as well as polling stations on election day.