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Ousted Paraguayan president appears before prosecutors
NPR • • world
Key Points:
- Paraguayan President Santiago Peña was impeached and placed under house arrest following the collapse of Ueno Bank, a U.S.-owned digital lender with ties to his government, leaving millions without access to their funds.
- Peña, a pro-market leader and shareholder in Ueno Bank, was accused by legislators of jeopardizing state assets and benefiting personally from the bank, leading to charges of malfeasance and breach of trust.
- Despite Peña's resignation announcement, lawmakers rejected it and proceeded with impeachment, unanimously finding him guilty; Vice President Pedro Alliana was sworn in to complete Peña's term until 2028.
- Paraguay's central bank seized control of Ueno Bank due to its failure to meet solvency requirements, sparking protests in the capital, Asunción, and prompting promises from the new president to compensate affected depositors.
- Peña appeared before prosecutors as part of the ongoing trial and issued a public apology to the Paraguayan people, denying wrongdoing amid the political and financial crisis.
