The president of Paraguay, Santiago Peña, announced his resignation on Thursday, following a banking scandal that escalated into a political crisis, at the very moment when lawmakers were debating an impeachment procedure against him.
"I have made the decision to submit my resignation from the presidency of the Republic," announced Santiago Peña, president since 2023, in a video posted on X. "I do this thinking about the stability of our country, social peace, and the need to preserve our democratic institutions."
The announcement comes 48 hours after a banking crisis, which saw the Central Bank of Paraguay (BCP) place Ueno, a financial entity claiming 2.94 million clients, under guardianship, with deposits temporarily frozen. Mr. Peña had until recently held shares in this bank.
