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Paraguay's President Pena Impeached, Alliana Sworn In
· Confirmed
In Short: All publications agree that Pena was impeached and removed from office, with Vice President Pedro Alliana sworn in as the new president, taking over the remainder of Pena's term until August 2028.
Paraguay's President Santiago Pena was removed from office after 44 senators voted to impeach him, according to Al Jazeera. The impeachment process began when the Chamber of Deputies voted 78 to zero to impeach Pena, allowing the Senate to remove him the following day, as reported by Al Jazeera and Geo.
Pena's tenure ended abruptly after the collapse of Ueno Bank, a major digital bank that left 3 million customers without access to their funds, as reported by The Guardian and Canberratimes. The central bank had ordered Ueno into resolution over insolvency, freezing the deposits of its customers, leaving many families without access to money for basic daily expenses.
Vice President Pedro Alliana was sworn in as the country's new president on Friday, taking over the remainder of Pena's term, which runs until August 2028, as reported by Al Jazeera and Geo. Alliana had served as vice president under Pena since the start of his term in 2023, according to Al Jazeera.
Pena offered to step down, citing the need to preserve democratic institutions, as reported by Al Jazeera. However, he did not attend his Senate trial, despite previously pledging to defend himself, as noted by Thenews.
Pena was placed under house arrest on suspicion of breach of trust shortly after his removal from office, according to Geo. His lawyers argued that he had been denied sufficient time to prepare his defense and challenged the proceedings, reserving the right to appeal to Paraguay's Supreme Court and international human rights bodies, as reported by Geo and Thenews.
Pena's resignation was accepted by lawmakers, who removed him through impeachment rather than accepting his resignation, as reported by Thenews. This decision prevented Pena from acquiring parliamentary immunity from prosecution, leaving him exposed to criminal proceedings.
Pena addressed the nation in a video, stating, “Dear compatriots, today I address you at one of the most difficult moments of my life. With my heart set on Paraguay and with the conviction that our republic must always come before any person or circumstance, I have decided to submit my resignation as president of the republic,” as reported by The Guardian.
Pena's resignation came despite his offer to step down, as lawmakers pressed ahead with impeachment proceedings that would strip him of the parliamentary immunity normally granted to former presidents, as reported by Thenews.
The fallout from the banking crisis extended beyond Pena's removal from office, affecting many Paraguayans, as reported by Thenews. Cynthia Farina, a protester, told AFP that Pena had hurt many Paraguayans, including her own son, who had savings in Ueno Bank.
Ueno Bank began as a finance company in the 1970s and was bought by Grupo Vázquez, one of Paraguay’s largest business and industrial conglomerates, in 2021, as reported by The Guardian.
Despite Pena's claim that he sold his shares in Grupo Vázquez last year, the bank's collapse and the subsequent freezing of customer accounts have led to significant financial and political turmoil in Paraguay.
What this adds
The impeachment process and subsequent events highlight the deep political and financial crisis in Paraguay, affecting millions of citizens and raising questions about the stability of the country's institutions.
What's confirmed
- His lawyers argued that he had been denied sufficient time to prepare his defence and challenged the proceedings, reserving the right to appeal to Paraguay's Supreme Court and international human rights bodies.
What's still developing
- On Friday, Alliana, 52, took the oath of office to become the South American country’s 53rd president.
- “I take my leave with gratitude, while fully acknowledging the anguish of those who are currently awaiting answers,” Pena wrote on social media on Friday afternoon.
- More than two-thirds of Paraguay's adults reportedly signed up for its services.
- The Senate declared Pena guilty of poor performance in his duties, with all 44 senators present voting for his removal.