Will U.S. Join Latin America in Condemning Ouster of President Fernando Lugo?

Paraguayan President Fernando Lugo has been ousted in what he has described as a parliamentary coup. On Friday, the Paraguayan Senate voted 39-to-4 to impeach Lugo, saying he had failed in his duty to maintain social order following a recent land dispute which resulted in the deaths of six police officers and 11 peasant farmers. A former priest, Lugo was once called the "Bishop of the Poor" and was known for defending peasant rights. Argentina, Brazil, Venezuela, Chile and Uruguay have all condemned Lugo’s ouster, but the question remains whether the Obama administration will recognize the new government. We’re joined by Greg Grandin, professor of Latin American history at New York University and author of "Empire’s Workshop: Latin America, the United States, and the Rise of the New Imperialism." His most recent book, "Fordlandia," was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in history.

AMY GOODMAN: We begin today’s show in South America where the Paraguayan President Fernando Lugo has been ousted in what he’s described as a parliamentary coup. On Friday, the Paraguayan Senate voted 39-4 to impeach Lugo saying he’d failed in his duty to maintain social order. The vote came following a recent land dispute which resulted in the deaths of six police officers and 11 peasant farmers. Lugo was elected president in 2008, ending more than 60 years of rule by the right-wing Colorado Party. A former priest, Lugo was once called the Bishop of the Poor, was known for defending peasant rights. On Sunday, Lugo announced the plans to set up an alternative government.

FERNANDO LUGO: This is a government that is not legitimate. It is a false administration. The people do not accept it. This is a government that has ruptured the republic’s institutions. You cannot corroborate with a government that is not legitimized by the citizens.