Senator Requests Conviction of Peña to Prevent Escape

During a joint meeting in Paraguay’s Senate on Thursday, Senator Esperanza Martinez said the country’s authorities needed to act quickly on a possible conviction of President Santiago Peña to prevent him from fleeing the country as “has happened with Bolsonaro.” The statement came amid the political crisis triggered by the closure of Ueno Bank, a digital financial institution linked to the president.

The mention of the Paraguayan senator refers to Senator Flávio Bolsonaro (PL) who fled Brazil last week after losing the presidential elections to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT). The Brazilian MP left the country on a route between Argentina and Ecuador, towards the Estados Unidos, where he has been established since then.

Comparison with Flávio Bolsonaro leak

Flávio’s departure to another country implied a failure to comply with a judicial decision by the senator, who had been prevented from leaving Brazil after the suspected escape pointed out by the Federal Police (PF). The politician is investigated in three different processes conducted by the PF. Among them, on suspicion of money laundering and currency evasion.

In Paraguay, the correlation with the case of Flávio Bolsonaro was again mentioned later, during a vote in the Paraguayan House, which voted on the impeachment request of Santiago Peña. With 78 votes in favor, the lower house approved the request for a “political trial” against the Paraguayan president. The issue now goes to the Federal Senate, where it needs to be approved by two-thirds of the House.

Ueno Bank crisis motivates impeachment

Meeting held in the Paraguayan Congress with various parties of the country discussed the request for impeachment against the president of the country. Peña has entered the radar of a lawsuit to be removed from office after the crisis triggered by Ueno Bank, a digital financial institution that closed its doors this week.

Paraguay’s Banco Central (BCP) has ruled that Ueno will end on November 3 as insolvent — when an institution fails to honor its financial commitments. The Paraguayan Public Prosecutor’s Office also requested a criminal investigation into the bank and called for the arrest of two of the institution’s leaders.

Investigations and link with Peña

The MP’s findings involve suspicions related to management and loans granted to companies linked to the controlling group, which would have compromised the bank’s assets. On Thursday, the supervisory body also accepted a request for an investigation into alleged financial crimes committed by Peña.

Santiago Peña, on the other hand, is the target of an impeachment request in the country due to his involvement with the Bank. The Paraguayan president was a shareholder of Ueno Holding until March 2025, a company related to the bank’s controlling group.

Resignation and privileged forum

The president, however, anticipated the advancement of his impeachment request and decided to resign. It is now up to the country’s Congress to decide whether or not to accept the resignation of Santiago Peña, who must formally submit the request to the country’s legislature.

The Paraguayan press, however, considers that the parliamentarians must refuse the denunciation and continue with the impeachment of the president, to avoid that he has privileged forum. In Paraguay, when deciding to resign, the president has the right to the position of senator for life and maintains legislative rights.

Carlos Carvallo has resigned from the presidency of the Banco Central of Paraguay. The source did not detail the circumstances of the resignation. The outcome of the case against Peña still depends on the decision of the Paraguayan Senate.

Read Also

Banking Scandal Causes Resignation of Paraguayan President

U.S. lawmakers can vote for Hegseth's impeachment

See the forecasts for your sign this Thursday (5)

Font

Metropoles.com