Paraguay president offers resignation to become senator

ASUNCION -- Paraguay's outgoing President Horacio Cartes offered his resignation on Monday so that he can take office as a senator on July 1.

In his resignation letter presented to the president of the national congress, Cartes reiterated his aim to serve Paraguay and its people with dignity and patriotism as senator.

"I have taken this decision to fulfill the democratic decision of the Paraguayan people expressed at the ballot box on April 22, when they elected me to the rank of senator...for 2018-2023," he wrote.

Cartes also announced his decision on Twitter. "I have presented my resignation of the position of President of the Republic of Paraguay in order to continue serving my country from the Senate."

Cartes has been president since August 2013. However, his election to the rank of senator has been contested by the opposition as violating the Constitution, where Article 189 mandates that former presidents can only be inactive senators, namely able to speak in Congress but unable to vote.

Now, the Senate will analyze Cartes' letter and decide whether to accept his resignation or not. Should they accept it, Cartes would become senator on July 1.

His vice-president, Alicia Pucheta, would become the first female president of Paraguay until August 15, when president-elect, Mario Abdo Benitez, takes over.

If the resignation is rejected, Cartes will remain in office until August 15 and his political future will be in the hands of the next Congress.