After protests, Paraguay's Cartes will not seek re-election

Paraguay's President Horacio Cartes will not seek re-election for the 2018-23 period.

Cartes stated his decision in a letter dated Monday and addressed to the archbishop of Asunción, Edmundo Valenzuela, who is facilitating the dialogue between the country's different political factions, following violent protests that broke out weeks ago after the government introduced a constitutional reform allowing for presidential re-election.

In the letter, which was made public through the president's official Twitter account, Cartes said that by renouncing his re-election ambitions he hoped to deepen the dialogue and strengthen the country's institutions.

Cartes' decision, however, does not imply that the constitutional amendment bill will be withdrawn, according to ruling party senator Lilian Samaniego.