Monsignor Fernando Lugo Visits Cornell
On June 15, 2007 Monsignor Fernando Lugo, front-runner to the 2008 Paraguay presidential election, visited the Cornell Global Labor Institute in New York City. Monsignor Fernando Lugo described a new political movement in Paraguay where the church, labor, social, intellectual, and political organizations have joined together in hopes of bringing new leadership to Paraguay. The presidential preliminary candidate explained that he intends to create a "new political paradigm" that promotes collective leadership within the country.
About Monsignor Lugo
Known as the bishop of the poor and strongly influenced by the progressive 'Theology of Liberation' tendency in the Catholic church, Monsignor Lugo has entered the race in Paraguay and is ahead of all other candidates in the polls. His candidacy has brought hope for needed social change and economic justice in this South American country, which is gaining increasing geo-political importance in the U.S. because of its common borders and proximity to countries with left-of-center governments that are often critical of U.S. foreign policy (Bolivia, Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Chile). If Msgr. Lugo wins in April 2008, Paraguay will complete the sweep of progressive political change in the Southern Cone and will add to the rising wave of independent politics in Latin America.