Brussels, 25/06/2012 (Agence Europe) - On 24 June, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Catherine Ashton voiced her support for the people of Paraguay and called on all parties to respect its democratic will, with Congress having voted by a large majority the day before to oust President Fernando Lugo (Left), who has been replaced by his Liberal deputy, Federico Franco. Catherine Ashton also welcomed the decision of the Organization of American States to send a team to Paraguay to monitor the situation. MEP Jürgen Klute (GUE/NGL, Germany) called on the EU to take position very clearly. “After Venezuela, Ecuador and Honduras, I ask the EU to strongly condemn this new attempted coup against another progressive Latin-American government”, he explained, criticising the attitude of the Conservative majority of the Parliament, which he accuses of constantly trying to destabilise President Lugo's government. The President of the GUE, Gabi Zimmer, stressed the group's full support for the people of Paraguay, who “fought for democracy after a period of dictatorship, who elected the President with a programme for social justice and democracy, and who is now defending its right to govern the country”. (CG/transl.fl)