Pedro Alliana sworn in as sudden Paraguay president

On Friday, Paraguay's ousted President Santiago Pena was placed under house arrest on suspicion of breach of trust and influence peddling. The Senate removed him from office following the collapse of a government-linked bank, Ueno Bank, which left nearly half of Paraguay's 6 million people without access to their savings. All 44 senators voted to impeach Pena, making him the second Paraguayan president to be removed through impeachment since the end of Gen. Alfredo Stroessner's 35-year dictatorship in 1989.

Depositors, retirees, and students gathered in the plaza outside Congress, waving Paraguayan flags and chanting "Dictatorship never again!" upon the verdict.

Pena was ordered to remain at one of his homes in Asunción until his appearance before prosecutors on Saturday morning, charged with breach of trust, influence peddling, and misuse of public office for personal gain. He has denied any wrongdoing. Vice President Pedro Alliana was sworn in as president to serve the remainder of Pena's term, which ends in August 2028. Alliana acknowledged Paraguay's urgent needs and inherited a government pressured to return depositors' money and hold those responsible accountable.