Paraguay's Senate impeaches President Peña over banking scandal

Paraguay's Senate unanimously removed President Santiago Peña from office on Friday over a banking scandal, voting 44 to 0 to impeach him for alleged conflicts of interest and dereliction of duty linked to the collapse of digital bank Ueno. Peña, who held shares in Ueno's parent group until 2025 and received loans from the bank, is accused of favoring it and influencing state banking oversight. His Thursday resignation attempt failed when lawmakers from his own Colorado Party left the chamber to block the vote, allowing the Senate to proceed with impeachment. The crisis erupted after the central bank closed Ueno on Tuesday, leaving millions of customers, including pensioners, without access to funds and stranding $850 million in public money. Vice President Pedro Alliana, a Colorado Party ally, will now serve out Peña's term until August 2028.