On Friday, 52-year-old Pedro Alliana took the oath of office as Paraguay's 53rd president. The inauguration came after the Paraguayan Senate impeached the former president, Santiago Pena, who was embroiled in a banking scandal.
Pena's impeachment was carried out after 44 of the 45 senators voted to remove him, while one senator abstained. Pena wrote on social media, "I take my leave with gratitude, while fully acknowledging the anguish of those who are currently awaiting answers," on Friday afternoon.
The scandal centered on the collapse of Ueno Bank, a financial institution that had previously been the country's fifth‑largest bank with about three million customers. The investigation linked the bank to potential conflicts of interest and insufficient oversight, and raised accusations of a breach of public trust against Pena. Prosecutors issued arrest warrants for Pena and former central bank head Carlos Carvallo.
Before becoming president, Alliana served as vice president since 2023 and had previously been governor of the Neembucu department as well as a member of the Chamber of Deputies for nearly a decade, including three years as its speaker. The Colorado Party, which has dominated Paraguayan politics since 1948, backed the impeachment process.
Further investigations involve at least 27 individuals facing criminal charges, including major shareholder Miguel Vazquez, with accusations ranging from attempted fraud to abuse of authority. Horacio Cartes, former president and party leader, wrote, "We support the impeachment of the president of the republic, Santiago Pena, in order to restore the republic’s institutions," in a statement.
Source: Al Jazeera
