The Senate unanimously removed him from office and the Prosecutor's Office ordered his detention for alleged breach of trust. The former president remains under house arrest
The former president of Paraguay, Santiago Peña, was arrested this Friday, November 6, at his home, after the Senate unanimously approved his impeachment through a political trial linked to the collapse of Ueno Bank. The measure was taken as part of an investigation for alleged breach of trust and other possible crimes related to the financial entity.
The order was issued by the Public Ministry in case No. 92/2026, titled “Santiago Peña s/ breach of trust and others,” and sent to the Command of the National Police for enforcement. The case involves prosecutors Elena Fiore, Christian Benítez, Silvia González Véster, and Ruth Karina Benítez. According to reports, Peña remains under house arrest.
Hours earlier, the Paraguayan Senate had voted to impeach the president for poor performance in his duties. The 44 senators present supported the decision, which prematurely ended his presidency and allowed criminal investigations to proceed without the privileges associated with his potential status as a lifetime senator.
Peña had submitted his resignation on Thursday, but Congress continued with the impeachment procedure. This Friday, the Upper House rejected a request from his defense for an additional 72 hours, and the former president did not personally attend the session, although he was represented by his lawyers.
Following the legislative resolution, Vice President Pedro Alliana was sworn in as the new president of Paraguay. The leader of the Colorado Party took charge of the Executive Power to complete the constitutional mandate, scheduled until August 2028, amid the political and financial crisis caused by the closure of Ueno Bank.
Santiago Peña remains in detention at his home.
The entity was subjected to a resolution process by the Central Bank of Paraguay after serious solvency issues were detected. The decision restricted access to the deposits of millions of clients and led to investigations into the bank's management and the fate of public resources.
Peña had declared shareholdings in Ueno Holding, which he sold in 2025. The Prosecutor's Office is examining his ties to the business group, while the former president denies having committed any irregularities. The arrest order does not constitute a criminal conviction and responsibilities will need to be determined in the judicial process.
