In brief
The joint session of Paraguay’s Congress was unable to approve President Santiago Peña’s resignation after lawmakers from the ruling Colorado Party left the debate, creating a quorum shortfall. The Chamber of Deputies had already cleared impeachment charges, and Senate President Basilio Nunez has ordered the Senate to proceed. Peña remains officially in office and has vowed to defend himself before the Senate.
In the capital of Asunción on Thursday, the joint session of Paraguay’s Congress failed to approve President Santiago Peña’s resignation because a lack of quorum left the vote incomplete.
The joint sitting was halted when several lawmakers from the ruling Colorado Party walked out during the vote, as reported by Xinhua. Their departure prevented the gathering from reaching the minimum number of deputies required to carry out the dismissal procedure, resulting in the resignation being left unapproved.
This development comes amid a broader political crisis that originated with the sudden collapse of the digital lender Ueno Bank. The bank’s failure left millions of Paraguayan customers without access to their accounts, sparking widespread criticism of President Peña and his administration. In the wake of the banking disaster, Peña announced his resignation, citing mounting pressure from the public and opposition forces.
Earlier on the same Thursday, the Chamber of Deputies took a decisive step by unanimously approving impeachment charges against Peña, the main body of the lower house. This vote reflected the deputies’ concern over the alleged mishandling of the financial crisis and the perceived erosion of public trust.
Following the Chamber’s decision, Senate President Basilio Nunez declared that the upper house would move forward with the impeachment proceedings. Nunez stated that the Senate would conduct the necessary hearings and investigations, reinforcing the constitutional process for addressing presidential conduct.
Against this backdrop, President Peña addressed the nation via social‑media platforms, stating that he would appear before the Senate and exercise his right to defend himself. The president remains formally in office, as Congress has yet to accept his resignation. Peña’s statement was backed by Xinhua’s reporting, noting his intention to engage with the Senate directly.
Paraguay’s political system currently lacks clear guidance on how to proceed when a president resigns but Congress is unable to approve the resignation. Analysts suggest that the Senate’s initiation of impeachment investigations could effectively serve as a de facto functionary in supervising the president while a formal replacement process remains stalled.
The situation highlights the potential instability arising from the Tenth Amendment’s criteria for presidential removal. While the Senate seeks to clarify the president’s legal status, opposition parties criticize the ruling party’s attempt to block the vote, claiming it violates democratic principles.
As proceedings continue, observers anticipate that the Senate’s forthcoming deliberations will determine Peña’s fate, either leading to his removal, the acceptance of his resignation, or an extension of his term in a liminal state that may further complicate Paraguay’s governance of the Ueno Bank fallout.
