Pedro Alliana sworn in as Paraguay president after Santiago Peña's impeachment
Ousted ex-President Santiago Peña was placed under house arrest on Friday after he was impeached over a major banking crisis.
On Friday, Pedro Alliana was sworn in as the president of Paraguay, following the impeachment of former leader Santiago Peña. Alliana, 52, previously served as vice president and comes from a family of politicians, with both parents serving as local councillors. He gained political traction by aligning himself with former President Horacio Cartes, who also belongs to the ruling Colorado Party.
Prior to entering politics, Alliana had a business career and was a basketball player for Paraguay's national team in 1991. His political journey began in 2006 when he ran unsuccessfully for the mayoralty of his hometown. However, he went on to become the governor of Neembucu department in 2008. In 2013, Alliana was elected to the Chamber of Deputies and served as its speaker until 2023.
He then led the Colorado Party. In 2021, Alliana had intended to run for the Senate, but Cartes persuaded him to become Peña's running mate instead. Alliana has faced criticism for the number of relatives in public administration, including his eldest daughter Montserrat. Following Peña's impeachment, Alliana was placed under house arrest and will be questioned on Saturday regarding alleged crimes of breach of trust, influence peddling, and misappropriation of funds.
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