Pedro Alliana assumed the Presidency of Paraguay

Published at: 06/11/2026 09:14 PM

Pedro Alliana , who until now served as vice-president of Paraguay, assumed the presidency of the South American country this Friday, November 6, in the midst of the scandal that broke out due to the banking crisis that caused the insolvency of Ueno Bank, reported the Russia Today website.

Alliana reached the first judiciary after the resignation and subsequent dismissal, by the Senate, of then-president Santiago Peña, who was accused of poor performance of his duties; a decision that occurred in the midst of that case of Ueno Bank, an entity with which the president maintained business ties.

“The Paraguay we receive today has emergencies that force us to be on the streets, in hospitals and in the countryside,” Alliana said in her speech to Congress after being sworn in.

There, he promised compensation for Paraguayans who were victims of the banking crisis: “Compatriots who are going through a difficult time today as a result of the financial meltdown will be fully compensated. We're not going to leave them alone.”

The Ueno Bank resolution process paralyzed its operations and affected some 2.9 million customers.

In this regard, he ordered that “immediate actions” be taken to compensate savers, with a preference for the least fortunate. “I don't want any lukewarm people in charge of this mission. I want results. My transparency is non-negotiable,” he added.

Alliana, who assumes power to end the term that Peña began in 2023, which runs until 2028, also stated that she will be “open, collaborative and fully and absolutely available to supervisory bodies”; and indicated that in the remaining stretch of the presidential term, she will focus on the State “fulfilling and fulfilling with quality the services it owes to its people.”

He also said that “in this period enough has been done abroad”; this, in a clear criticism of Peña, who was criticized for his frequent trips abroad. “I'm going to be a president who takes care of Paraguay inside,” he emphasized.

In this first speech, he announced that, as soon as possible, he will send to Congress a “comprehensive rationalization project essentially in the area of combating superfluous expenses”. “We urgently need to save resources to allocate to the sectors that need it most for their human and social promotion,” he said.

Alliana is a 52-year-old politician born in the department of Ñeembucú and with more than two decades as part of the conservative Colorado Party.

The current president has a degree in international relations from the Autonomous University of San Sebastián, which he had to show to the press this year to deny rumors of alleged irregular obtaining.

Prior to his entry into politics, he worked as a merchant in his hometown, where he was a candidate for mayor although he did not win the elections. Later, he was elected governor of Ñeembucú. Later, he continued as a deputy for his department, while continuing to advance within the structure of the Colorado Party, although he was considered an 'outsider' like his mentor, former president Horacio Cartes, who currently leads the group.

Peña resigned on November 5, however, he remained in office for another day, since his resignation had been pending after the joint session of Congress convened to decide whether to accept it was left without a quorum.

However, a political trial was pending in Congress against him. The Chamber of Deputies unanimously approved submitting him to the process and the Senate began the process, to finally dismiss him this Friday.

After that, the Paraguayan Public Prosecutor's Office charged Peña with alleged breach of trust and other crimes related to the Ueno Bank case, and ordered his arrest.