Asuncion, Paraguay  - The Paraguayan Congress could not reach a quorum due to the boycott of opposition legislators Tuesday, making it impossible for the body to vote on the resignation of President Nicanor Duarte Frutos.

Duarte Frutos resigned Monday, in order to be free to take up next week the Senate seat he was recently elected to hold.

According to the South American country's Constitution, presidents can only be elected for a single five-year mandate, and once they leave office they become senators for life.

However, in that capacity Duarte Frutos would have had a voice in the chamber, but would be unable to vote. In order to have a vote, the outgoing president sought, and obtained, a regular seat in the Senate.

Since Congress did not formally accept Duarte Frutos' resignation, he will have to remain on the job until there is quorum in the legislature, or until his mandate ends on August 15. Legal wrangling will then be necessary to establish whether he can be sworn in as a senator after that date.

If the resignation is accepted before June 30, Vice President Francisco Oviedo would act as head of state until president-elect Fernando Lugo is inaugurated on August 15.

Duarte Frutos would then be free to join the Senate on July 1, after having been elected to a seat on April 20 for the conservative Colorado Party. (dpa)