State in Paraguay

The Constitución Nacional (CN) establishes Paraguay as an Estado Social de Derecho whose sovereignty belongs to the people. The official languages are Spanish and Guaraní, while Indigenous languages form part of the national heritage. The three branches of government are institutionally distinct: the Poder Ejecutivo is led by the President and Vice President; the Congreso Nacional makes laws and exercises political and budgetary oversight; and the Poder Judicial resolves cases, with the Corte Suprema de Justicia as its highest court. The Ministerio Público independently conducts public criminal prosecutions and protects constitutional rights, public property, the environment and Indigenous rights. The national administration includes ministries and Organismos y Entidades del Estado (OEE), such as autonomous, decentralized and state-owned bodies. The Ministerio de Economía y Finanzas coordinates budget and financial management through the Sistema Integrado de Administración Financiera (SIAF). The Presupuesto General de la Nación (PGN) is approved each year by law. Law No. 7609/2025 approved the 2026 budget at ₲149.6 trillion, including ₲74.9 trillion for the Administración Central and ₲74.7 trillion for decentralized entities; the Fiscal Responsibility Law sets a maximum deficit of 1.5%. A 2027 budget proposal of ₲166.3 trillion had not yet become an approved budget as of 12 September 2026. Paraguay has departments and municipalities with distinct responsibilities. Each department has a directly elected Gobernador and Junta Departamental for a five-year term. The Gobernación coordinates regional development plans, infrastructure and budgets, while the Junta adopts departmental rules and exercises oversight. Municipalities are administered by an Intendente and a Junta Municipal. The Junta adopts Ordenanzas, Reglamentos and Resoluciones, approves the municipal budget and tax rules, and monitors the Intendente. Municipal responsibilities include planning, urban development, subdivision of land, construction, roads, public spaces, markets, local services, public order and cadastre. National responsibilities do not automatically transfer to local government without the required powers and resources. Asunción is the capital and has its own municipality. People can find public services and procedures through the Portal Único de Gobierno at paraguay.gov.py. Each service should identify its requirements, form, responsible institution, location, opening hours, access channel and cost. Identidad Electrónica provides central digital identification for online procedures at participating public portals, sometimes with additional verification or two-factor authentication. Digital access is generally available around the clock, but practical access varies with internet connection, distance, institutional capacity and language services. In-person alternatives depend on the service. The Constitution protects freedom of expression, freedom of the press and the dissemination of information. Law No. 5282/2014 regulates access to public information and transparency; any person may submit a request, subject to statutory procedures, deadlines and exceptions. Law No. 5189/2014 adds transparency duties for public bodies. National, departmental and municipal institutions are covered, and public information and communication are intended to be available in Spanish and Guaraní under Law No. 4251/2010, although implementation and language support vary by institution. Several bodies provide oversight. The Contraloría General de la República (CGR) audits the execution and accounting of the PGN, public assets, departments, municipalities, banks and OEE, and receives public officials' asset declarations. Congress can request information, investigate and examine public finances. Municipalities must prepare annual budgets, periodic execution reports and annual accounts. The Defensoría del Pueblo receives complaints about human rights and community interests independently of nationality, age or residence and without requiring prior exhaustion of other remedies. It cannot act as a court or executive authority. Public safety is divided by function. The Policía Nacional maintains public order, protects people, rights and property, prevents crime and carries out authorized orders and investigations under judicial direction. The Ministerio del Interior and the national internal-security structure set the domestic security framework. The Ministerio de Defensa Nacional leads defense and security policy, while the Fuerzas Armadas protect national defense and do not perform ordinary municipal administration. Depending on the matter, a complaint or incident may involve the Policía Nacional, Ministerio Público, a Juzgado or the Defensoría del Pueblo. Residents and other persons using public institutions have rights to information and access to administrative and judicial procedures, while duties can include obeying the law, paying legally based taxes and local charges, and cooperating with lawful proceedings.