Paraguayan President Seeks 72‑Hour Extension as Impeachment Probe Advances

President Santiago Pena of Paraguay asked the Senate for a three‑day window to build his defence after being handed a detailed indictment. The indictment runs 15 pages and is accompanied by roughly 300 pages of supporting documents, which Pena said he received the evening before. He posted the request on X, claiming the move breaches due‑process standards. Senate President Basilio Nunez confirmed that lawmakers will consider the extension request on Friday. Pena had submitted his resignation on Thursday, but the Congress decided to keep it on hold while the impeachment process continues. The turmoil began on Tuesday when the Central Bank intervened in Ueno Bank, freezing the accounts of about three million people – nearly half of Paraguay’s population – after the digital lender collapsed. Pena, who became president in 2023 after serving as finance minister, previously owned a share in the group that controlled the bank but sold it in 2025. The scandal quickly escalated, leading to the central bank chief’s resignation and the arrest of eight senior bank officials. Public anger sparked protests for a third night on Thursday in Asuncion and other cities.

Context

The freeze of Ueno Bank accounts left millions without access to their money, intensifying public pressure on the government and prompting calls for accountability from opposition leaders.