[1] They were the first held since longtime president Alfredo Stroessner was toppled in a military coup on 3 February, seven months after being sworn in for an eighth term.

For the first time in several years, the opposition was allowed to contest the elections more or less unmolested; the Communists were the only party that was banned from taking part.

The legislative elections were called after Rodríguez dissolved the previous Congress in February, citing a provision of the constitution that allowed the president to do so if they felt Congress had acted in a manner that distorted the separation of powers.

Rodríguez used the new elections as a tool to purge pro-Stroessner "militants" from the Colorado caucus.

[3] In this case, Rodríguez won the right to serve the remainder of Stroessner's term, which was due to end in 1993.