Paraguayan President Pena, who was dismissed "for abuse of power", was detained

Pena, who received 44 votes in favor in the Senate vote, became the second president in the country's recent democratic history to lose his office as a result of the impeachment process, after former President Fernando Lugo was suspended from office in June 2012.

Pena, who was dismissed for "abuse of power", lost his "lifetime senator" status and legal immunity, which were granted to former heads of state, after he was found guilty by the impeachment decision in accordance with Article 189 of the Constitution.

In accordance with the constitutional protocol, current Vice President Pedro Alliana will assume the presidency until 2028.

Paraguay National Police confirmed that Pena, who was suspended from his duty, was detained at his home in accordance with the decision made by the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office.

Taking action within the scope of the investigation carried out by the Economic Crimes and Anti-Corruption Unit, the security forces implemented the house arrest decision for Pena in line with the closure of Ueno Bank, allegations of "abuse of trust" and corruption regarding the $ 355 million public pension fund IPS.

It was shared that Pena will be kept under house arrest until he is brought before the Anti-Corruption Unit prosecutor.

Meanwhile, the Economic Crimes and Anti-Corruption Unit of the Paraguayan Chief Public Prosecutor's Office also detained former President of the Central Bank of Paraguay (BCP), Carlos Carvallo Spalding, who resigned from his post.

Accusations against Pena

In the impeachment file prepared by opposition MPs about Pena, it was argued that Pena put his commercial interests ahead of state responsibilities and abused office by preserving his shares in the umbrella group of Ueno Bank despite taking over the office in 2023.

The file included allegations that the Social Security Institute (IPS) was privileged by keeping the pension fund of approximately $ 355 million in this bank and that there was irregularity in the appointment of Carlos Carvallo as the President of the Central Bank of Paraguay (BCP) in 2023.

Pena denied the allegations and stated that his priority was to protect the public and that those responsible for the irregularities would be held accountable before the judiciary.

What happened?

Ueno Bank, one of the country's largest private financial institutions, serving 2.9 million of Paraguay's population of approximately 6.1 million, was intervened on November 3 due to deteriorations in its financial structure.

The Central Bank of Paraguay decided to liquidate the institution after the bank's capital adequacy ratio fell below half of the legal limit.