Son of ex-dictator’s aide leads race as Paraguay votes

ASUNCION, Paraguay (AP) — The son of a former dictator's top aide appeared to have a strong lead heading into Sunday's election for Paraguayan president, aided by a booming economy under his party.

Mario Abdo Benitez has promised to continue the business-friendly policies of outgoing President Horacio Cartes and he's downplayed any fears of a return to the heavy-handed past of Alfredo Stroessner, who ruled from 1954 to 1989. Abdo's father was Stroessner's private secretary.

Recent polls showed him with a more than 20 percentage point lead over his closest rival, 55-year-old lawyer Efrain Alegre of the Authentic Radical Liberal Party, who also finished second in the last election.

The two candidates have similar platforms, promising to attract foreign investment to create jobs in an economy that has been one of the fastest-growing in the region but still suffers from high poverty levels, extreme inequality and endemic corruption. Both also are social conservatives who have criticized sex education and abortion rights.

Abdo's Colorado Party has led Paraguay with only a few interruptions since the mid-20th Century. The landlocked nation of about 7 million people borders Argentina, Bolivia and Brazil.

Election officials reported no serious disturbances during the balloting, though a woman was detained for hitting Abdo in the shoulder while he was at the polling place. Police detained her, and her motive was unclear.

The new president will start a five year term on Aug. 15.

Sunday's election will also renew all seats in Congress, and 17 governorships nationwide. The new president takes office on August 15.