In Asuncion protesters stormed and set fire to the Congress of Paraguay after the Senate secretly voted for a constitutional amendment that would allow President Horacio Cartes to run again, reports Reuters.
The Constitution prohibits reelection, as it was adopted in 1992 after the 1989 fall of dictatorship. The amendment also requires the approval of the house of representatives.
“Carried out the state coup, we will fight back, and we call upon the people to resist together with us,” said Senator Desiree Masi of the Opposition progressive democratic party.
The demonstrators set fire to tires and removed part of the fencing surrounding the Congress building. The police used tear gas and rubber bullets.
Several politicians and journalists were injured. The Minister of internal Affairs Tadeo Rojas said he suffered a lot of police.