Socially conservative rivals vie for Catholic Paraguay’s top job

Polls show Santiago Pena (L) and Efrain Alegre neck-and-neck ahead of presidential elections in Paraguay on Sunday – Copyright PRU/AFP/File Handout

Hugo OLAZAR, Nina NEGRON

A right-wing economist and a center-left lawyer, both social conservatives, will face off Sunday in Paraguay’s most closely-run presidential election in many years.

Santiago Pena, 44, carries the hopes of the right-wing Colorado party in power almost nonstop since 1947, but faces a tough challenge from Efrain Alegre, 60, representing the center-left Concertacion coalition narrowly ahead in opinion polls.

The pair sit on opposite ends of the political aisle, but are on the same page when it comes to abortion and gay marriage: It’s a strong “No” for both.

– Third bid –

Alegre started in politics very young, campaigning in opposition to the 1954-89 dictatorship of Alfredo Stroessner — o