Paraguayan opposition lawmakers formally filed an impeachment request against the country’s president, Santiago Peña, and his vice president, Pedro Alliana, over a banking scandal that, on Tuesday the 3rd, left about 3 million citizens with their accounts frozen.
Representative Mauricio Espínola, a dissenter from the governing base, said the petition presented to the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies had 35 signatures and that the session to discuss the impeachment process was set for Thursday, the 5th.
The move came a day after the Paraguayan Central Bank ordered intervention in Ueno Bank due to a severe capital shortfall. Peña, who took office in 2023 for a term through 2028, held shares in a group that controlled Ueno, which he divested in 2025.
Monetary authorities initiated a dissolution process, casting doubt on the fate of savings totaling hundreds of millions of dollars.
The measure immediately halted its digital operations, including withdrawals and bank transfers. The Central Bank also ordered the suspension of redemptions in several investment funds linked to the institution. The announcement sparked panic among Paraguayans, who took to the streets of the capital, Asunción, to demand answers.
The indictment presented to the Chamber on Wednesday, the 4th, seeks the initiation of impeachment proceedings against the president “for poor performance in carrying out his duties.” Among the charges are “conflict of interest” and the growth of his wealth.
The deputies must gather 53 votes, out of 80 total lawmakers, to approve the request. If approved, the Senate will conduct the trial, which could oust the leaders if 30 votes are reached among the 45 senators.
The Colorado Party, of Peña, holds the majority in Congress, though the party is led by former president Horacio Cartes, who is distant from Peña and is a key figure in shaping the stance of the governing base. (AP)
