《TAIPEI TIMES》 Leader change will not affect ties with Paraguay: ministry

Paraguayan President Santiago Peña's resignation due to his country's financial crisis will not affect Asuncion's diplomatic relations or cooperation with Taipei, Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said yesterday.

Taiwan and Paraguay maintain close cooperation on projects aimed at improving people's lives, and political developments will not affect bilateral relations or the implementation of these projects, the foreign ministry said.

Taiwan will continue to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation to consolidate the long-term relationship between the two democratic allies, the ministry added.

Peña reaffirmed Paraguay's diplomatic ties with Taiwan during his visit to Taiwan in May. After winning Paraguay's presidential election in 2023, he promised to deepen relations with Taiwan.

Whether diplomatic relations with Taiwan should be maintained was a major issue in Paraguay's general election.

Peña announced his resignation on Thursday in the wake of the bank collapse, minutes before the lower house voted unanimously to impeach him.

Both houses refused to accept Peña's offer of resignation, and the Paraguayan Senate decided to proceed with a trial that could lead to the president's removal from office.

Reuters reports that Paraguay Vice President Pedro Ariana will succeed him.

Opposition senators continue to call for Peña to be removed from office.

Paraguay's Attorney General Emiliano Rolon Fernandez has ordered three criminal investigations into the Banco Ueno crisis, including allegations involving Peña and other current and former government officials.

Peña said he will cooperate with investigators.

"Whatever the outcome of this process, I will act responsibly and respect the Constitution," he said on X.

Peña, who until last year held a stake in a Ueno-linked company, expressed remorse but did not accept responsibility for the turmoil that has left millions of savers, retirees and workers struggling to claw back their frozen savings and unpaid wages.

"If I failed the people at any time, I apologize to the people," he said. "I never intentionally betrayed the trust they placed in me."

Peña yesterday asked for three extra days to prepare for impeachment.

He said he had received an indictment of about 15 pages with about 300 pages of appendices the night before, adding: "This is not due process."