In France many people knew about Francois Mitterrand and his daughter though the media never discussed it. The media never discussed it because they were told not to discuss it but on the street was another story. Locally people liked to scoff at the Clinton-Lewinsky affair and the prudishness of Americans despite there being limited evidence of an obsession outside of the Republican Party. Maybe neither side fits the mold that they so often project. There's something about high level politics and affairs but this one takes the cake. The former Catholic bishop turned politician and new President of Paraguay has been shocking the electorate, to say the least.
It was shocking enough when the first woman stepped forward asserting that she had had a child with President Lugo, 57, who assumed power on a wave of popularity just eight months ago. It is worth bearing in mind that before running for president he was a prominent Catholic bishop.If true, his record is even more extreme than Newt Gingrich's record with wives.
The President not only acknowledged the truth in the startling claims of Viviana Carrillo, 26. According to local media reports, he even opened his palace to her and the child, who is now almost two. Seemingly, they are settling in well. The child has even adopted his name.
But before the country knew how to react – it is at once overwhelmingly Catholic but is also a macho society that may consider the procreational activities of its leader a sign of fortitude – two more shoes or, rather, babies, dropped. A second purported mother of a Lugo child vowed to file a paternity suit against him on Monday. And yet another woman popped up on Wednesday with more Lugo offspring.
