Paraguayan opposition leader Cubas, who came third in Paraguay’s presidential election at the end of April and has been in custody for eleven days, called on his supporters on Tuesday to stop demonstrating around the electoral court – the national electoral commission -, questioning the result.

“I urge you to put an end to this action, because without a doubt we will have more injured on both sides,” said Mr. Koumbas, who is in custody at a police station in Athens, in a video uploaded to social networking sites. capital of the country, Asuncion.

The self-proclaimed “anti-establishment” candidate, with radical, often vitriolic rhetoric, 61, was arrested on May 5 near Asuncion and remanded in custody as he faces charges of public disorder, threats and insubordination following the April 30 election.

Mr. Koumbas made a surprise in the elections, occupying the third place with 22.9% of the votes, but the winner of the contest (with 42.7% of the votes) was the 44-year-old Santiago Peña, economist, candidate of the Colorado party (right ), who has been in power for over seven decades.

The day after the elections, complaining of fraud, Mr. Koumbas’ followers demonstrated and set up roadblocks in various parts of the country, with the encouragement of their leader. Over a hundred people were brought in by the police.

His hard-line followers, as well as members of protesting indigenous communities of their own, have since continued to block a boulevard near the electoral court — at the height of the mobilization, a few hundred people participated. Police issued an ultimatum until Tuesday to end the demonstration, while negotiating with participating groups.

As a result of these contacts, or the intervention of Mr. Koumbas, the police announced yesterday that a large part of the participants are now leaving the area.

The fate of Mr. Koumbas is expected to be decided within the week. Judge orders ‘anti-establishment’ candidate to remain in custody; defense appeals.