Paraguay’s Foreign Minister Rubén Ramírez Lezcano spoke with Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira after Pedro Alliana was sworn in as Paraguay’s president. (Foto: Instagram)
Paraguay’s Foreign Minister Rubén Ramírez Lezcano called his Brazilian counterpart, Mauro Vieira, on Saturday, Nov. 7, a day after Santiago Peña was impeached. The call came after Pedro Alliana, who had been vice president, was sworn in as Paraguay’s new president.
The contact was described in published reporting as a gesture by Alliana toward Paraguay’s neighbors. Paraguay’s Foreign Ministry also contacted other countries in the region. During the call, Lezcano thanked Vieira for a message Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva had sent to Alliana.
In a post on X, Lula wished Alliana success in his new role and said he hoped to work with him openly and cooperatively to strengthen bilateral ties and advance South American integration. Lula also invited Alliana to visit Brazil.
Peña’s impeachment followed suspicions of his involvement in financial fraud at Banca Ueno. He is under investigation in connection with the case and was arrested during the week, according to the report. The crisis has caused political and financial instability in Paraguay and raised concern at Brazil’s Foreign Ministry. Sources there, speaking privately, characterized the matter as an internal issue for Paraguay while saying they were closely monitoring the crisis and its possible consequences.
