Paraguay’s Interior Minister Enrique Riera resigned Thursday as the Senate prepared to resume impeachment proceedings against President Santiago Peña. (Foto: Instagram)
Paraguay’s Interior Minister Enrique Riera resigned Thursday, Nov. 5, and is returning to the Senate as lawmakers prepare to resume proceedings on an impeachment case against President Santiago Peña. Peña has also sought to resign, but Congress did not accept his request, and the impeachment process is set to continue.
The Senate is scheduled to take up the case Friday, Nov. 6. ABC Color reported that Riera’s resignation was a strategy to allow him to vote in the proceedings. Carlos Humberto Benítez González will take over as interior minister.
The crisis began with the collapse of Ueno Bank. Peña was a shareholder in Grupo Vázquez, the group that controls the bank, until March of last year. Ueno also held Paraguayan public funds, including money from the country’s social security system.
Ueno Bank is under investigation over alleged manipulation of its financial position and a suspected loan scheme involving companies that may have links to the bank’s controlling group. Eight executives have been arrested, including the bank’s largest shareholder and vice president, Miguel Vázquez.
The Senate has summoned Peña to present his defense Friday. Afterward, lawmakers are expected to examine evidence, hear arguments from both sides and hold a roll-call vote. At least 30 of the Senate’s 45 members must vote to remove Peña. If they approve his removal, Vice President Pedro Alliana is expected to assume the presidency under the constitutional succession process.
