What really upset the applecart was Lugo's stance on land reform. In Paraguay, 2% of the population control more than 75% of the fertile land, while small-scale farmers – about 40% of the population – own a mere 5%. One-third of the rural population is landless. Despite attempts to shift away from an agricultural and natural resource-based economy, the land remains the key to wealth and power in Paraguay, just as it has for hundreds of years.