A former Catholic bishop has been elected president in Paraguay, ending 61 years of rule by the conservative Colorado Party.
Fernando Lugo won 41% of the vote, a 10% lead over the ruling party candidate. Blanca Ovelar won won 31%, ending the possibility of her becoming the country’s first woman president.
Another candidate, retired army chief Lino Oviedo, trailed far behind in third place with 22% of the vote.
Mr Lugo later addressed jubilant supporters of his leftist Patriotic Alliance for Change coalition at his campaign headquarters, saying the election showed that ‘the little people can also win’.
Fernando Lugo left his post as bishop three years ago, saying he felt powerless to help the poor in Paraguay. He led a centre-left coalition at the presidential election, vowing to end corruption and ease inequalities.
Outgoing President Nicanor Duarte could not constitutionally seek re-election after serving a five-year term.
‘Today we suffered an electoral defeat,’ Mr Duarte told his Colorado Party, but added: ‘I want to stress that for the first time in Paraguay's political history, there will be a party-to-party transition without bloodshed, coup d'etat, without violence.’
Mr Lugo will be sworn in as president on 15 August.
