The key facts

  • The Senate rejected the president's request for a 72-hour postponement: 39 votes against, 3 in favor, 2 abstentions, 1 absent
  • Peña received the notice with a 15-page indictment and about 300 pages of attachments less than 12 hours before the session
  • The president had previously submitted a resignation letter, but there was no quorum to consider it; if he is removed, Vice President Pedro Alliana will assume the duties

Senate rejects request for postponement

Paraguay's Senate on Friday rejected President Santiago Peña's request for a 72-hour postponement to prepare his defense in the impeachment proceedings and summoned him to appear before lawmakers at 12:10 local time (15:00 GMT). As reported by ABC Digital, 39 senators voted against the request, three voted in favor of the postponement, two abstained, and one was absent.

The president's objections

In a letter to Senate President Basilio Núñez, Peña stated that less than 12 hours is 'clearly insufficient for a process that meets the standards of a rule-of-law state.' According to him, he received the notice on Thursday at 22:15 local time, along with a 15-page indictment and approximately 300 pages of accompanying documents. The president argued that such a short timeframe does not allow him to appoint a lawyer and prepare a full legal defense. The denial of the postponement means the defense must proceed according to the original schedule set by lawmakers.

Context: the crisis surrounding Ueno Bank

The impeachment proceedings are unfolding against the backdrop of a financial crisis surrounding Ueno Bank, which was taken under the control of Paraguay's central bank this week over concerns about its financial condition. The situation at the bank restricted customers' access to their deposits, sparking public discontent and questions about the lender's financial operations. Peña, who previously held shares in the holding company that controlled Ueno Bank, faces accusations of a conflict of interest and alleged violations related to pension funds placed in the bank. Amid growing pressure, the president submitted a resignation letter on Thursday, but lawmakers failed to gather a quorum to consider it, allowing the impeachment to proceed. If Peña's departure is formalized, Vice President Pedro Alliana will assume the post of president.