In brief
The Senate voted 44‑to‑zero to impeach President Santiago Peña following the collapse of Ueno Bank, which froze accounts of about three million Paraguayans. Vice President Pedro Alliana was sworn in as the new president. A decade later, Peña was placed under house arrest while prosecutors determine charges.
In November 2014, Paraguay’s Senate voted to impeach President Santiago Peña after the collapse of digital bank Ueno froze the accounts of about three million Paraguayans.
The upper house delivered 44 votes in favor with one senator absent, and found the former president guilty of improper performance of official duties.
Chairman Basilio Nunez said:
44 votes were cast in favor of issuing a guilty verdict; one senator was absent.
Senate officials announced that Peña would be removed from office; Vice President Pedro Alliana was sworn in as the new president in a joint session that was broadcast live on the Senate’s YouTube channel.
The collapse of Ueno Bank, which was placed under external administration by the Central Bank, froze the accounts of approximately three million customers and triggered a political and financial crisis that led to the impeachment.
A decade later, in November 2024, former President Peña was placed under house arrest while prosecutors determine the final charges. Police maintained a security cordon outside his residence as dozens of protesters gathered.
The new president Alliana has taken office to address the crisis, while the former president remains confined as investigations continue.
Earlier on October 5, the lower house of Congress voted to launch an impeachment inquiry against Peña. Critics said Peña had a conflict of interest linked to Ueno Bank, while Peña claimed he was resigning prior to the Senate vote, though the Congress had not yet confirmed his resignation.
Under Paraguay’s constitution, all former presidents become lifetime senators unless they are impeached.
Reactions to the impeachment were swift, with protesters rallying outside the president’s residence and police maintaining a cordon around the house.
