Paraguay: closing arguments end in Peña’s impeachment trial
The Senate president called a new sitting for the final debate and vote. No result had been confirmed.
Updated 06.11.2026 · 23:02, Athens time — What changed
Closing arguments in Santiago Peña’s impeachment trial ended at 17:55 in Asunción (22:55 in Athens). Senate President Basilio Núñez closed the sitting and called another for the final debate and roll-call vote, according to ABC Color’s live coverage.
The defence argued that procedural safeguards had been breached and that the trial could not continue after Peña announced his resignation. The prosecuting lawmakers sought his removal over his handling of the Ueno Bank case. Those were the parties’ positions; the result of the vote had not been confirmed at the time of this update.
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Updated 06.11.2026 · 20:02, Athens time — What changed
Paraguay’s Senate voted at 14:35 in Asunción (19:35 in Athens) to admit evidence submitted by the lawmakers prosecuting Santiago Peña in his impeachment trial, according to ABC Color’s live coverage. The outlet recorded 41 votes in favour of admitting the evidence. A 45-minute recess was then announced before the next stage.
The vote permits consideration of the evidence. It does not resolve the Chamber of Deputies’ allegations over Ueno Bank or remove the president from office.
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Updated 06.11.2026 · 19:09, Athens time — What changed
Lawyers Adolfo Ferreiro and Ricardo Preda appeared before Paraguay’s Senate on 6 November to present Santiago Peña’s defence in the impeachment trial over Ueno Bank. Peña did not attend this stage. According to ABC Color’s live coverage, the sitting resumed at 13:10 in Asunción (18:10 in Athens), when Ferreiro began speaking. News agency EFE also confirmed that the lawyers appeared.
The lawyers argued that they had too little time to review the case file and challenged the evidence supporting the charges. These are the defence’s arguments. The hearing did not resolve the charges brought by the Chamber of Deputies, and no final vote on removing the president had been confirmed at the time of this update.
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Updated 06.11.2026 · 17:07, Athens time — What changed
On 6 November Paraguay’s Senate rejected President Santiago Peña’s request for 72 additional hours to prepare his defence. According to ABC Color’s coverage of the roll call, 39 senators voted against the extension, three in favour, two abstained and one was absent.
The decision concerns the deadline for the defence. After the vote, Peña or his lawyers were called to appear at 12:10 in Asunción (17:10 Athens time), ABC Color reported. The vote did not decide the charges or remove Peña from office.
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Updated 06.11.2026 · 16:01, Athens time — What changed
Paraguay’s Senate resumed President Santiago Peña’s impeachment trial on 6 November. According to ABC Color’s live coverage, the extraordinary session opened at 10:45 in Asunción (15:45 Athens time). The clerk read Peña’s letter requesting 72 hours to prepare his defence.
Peña argues the time allowed to review the charges and submit evidence is insufficient. This is a request from the defence. At the time of this update, there was no confirmed Senate decision on the request or final vote on his removal.
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Updated 06.11.2026 · 05:02, Athens time — What changed
Paraguay’s Senate opened President Santiago Peña’s impeachment trial on the evening of 5 November, local time. At the first session, the deputies appointed to argue the case presented allegations about the president’s handling of the Ueno Bank affair.
Peña’s defence hearing is scheduled for Friday, 6 November, at 10:00 in Asunción (15:00 Athens time), according to Congress President Basilio Núñez, as reported by ABC Color. The review of evidence, arguments and a roll-call vote follow. Removal requires 30 votes from the 45 senators. The timing of the final vote remains open. Peña remains in office while proceedings are pending and his resignation has yet to be accepted.
Original report
Paraguayan President Santiago Peña submitted his resignation on 5 November 2026 while the Chamber of Deputies debated impeachment over the Ueno Bank case. The lower house said it approved impeachment with 78 votes in favour. The vote brings charges; the Senate judges them and requires a two-thirds majority to convict.
The two houses separately took up the resignation in a joint session. According to ABC Color, the session ended after losing its quorum and did not accept the resignation. Vice President Pedro Alliana did not take office at that session. Lawmakers’ claims about conflicts of interest and the handling of public funds remain allegations. Peña denies wrongdoing, according to Reuters.
First phase of payments to depositors
The Central Bank of Paraguay decided on 2 November to put Ueno Bank into resolution after finding its solvency ratio was less than half the regulatory minimum. On 5 November it announced the start of the deposit guarantee payment process. The first group is depositors with balances of up to 10 million guaraníes, no debts to Ueno and an active account with another domestic financial institution. The central bank will announce subsequent groups separately. The amount refers to the conditions of the first phase.
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