SODOM & GOMORRAH: The United States ambassador to Brazil during the recent upheaval also served as ambassador to Paraguay in 2012 — right before their president was also ousted.
As previously covered, Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff was recently ousted from power and replaced with an interim president. This interim leader, Michel Temer, was revealed to be an informant for the Americans after diplomatic cables were leaked. Ms. Rousseff stepped down as she awaits criminal proceedings for allegedly violating finance law, but in doing so the president accused the opposition of essentially launching a coup to oust her government. Accusing the opposition leaders of sabotaging her administration from the start, Ms. Rousseff did not mince words as she proclaimed her innocence of any wrongdoing.
Now, information has surfaced that may support her claims. In August 2008 Fernando Lugo took power in Paraguay, marking the end of the 61 year rule of the Colorado Party. Political opposition to Mr. Lugo surfaced almost immediately and he faced potential impeachment within a year of being elected. The US ambassador to Paraguay at the time, Liliana Ayalde, was quoted in a diplomatic cable as working to “make sure Lugo understands the benefits of a close relationship with the United States.” The State Department took an official stance to offer no particular support to Mr. Lugo, but reinforce a commitment to democratic institutions.
Mr. Lugo was removed from office through an impeachment process in 2012. Neighboring countries called it a coup.
Ms. Ayalde transferred to the Brazilian post in 2013 after briefly serving in a handful of other posts after leaving the Paraguay position in mid 2011. She arrived to Brazil shortly after it had been revealed that the United States had been spying extensively on Brazil, even going so far as to intercept Ms. Rousseff’s personal communications.