New Paraguay president vows break with era of corruption

ASUNCION - Right-wing economist Santiago Pena assumed the presidency of Paraguay on Tuesday, vowing to increase transparency in a country still under the shadow of a former leader who oversaw what the US government deemed “rampant corruption.”

King Felipe VI of Spain, Taiwan Vice-President William Lai and the leaders of Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile and Uruguay observed as Mr Pena took an oath and donned the presidential sash.

“I have the conviction that corruption problems are solved with an independent, impartial and swift justice,” Mr Pena said in his inaugural address, while promising to implement “a clear, forceful, unwavering pro-transparency policy.”

“Success is to make all Paraguayans better off and for the world to witness the resurgence of a giant,” he added.

Mr Pena, who at 44 became the youngest ruler of the democratic era in Paraguay, is considered the heir of former president Horacio Cartes (2013-18), for whom he had words of gratitude “for his perseverance and patience to build consensus.”

Mr Cartes, who leads the ruling Colorado Party that has dominated Paraguayan politics since 1947, is a tobacco tycoon linked to money laundering, tax evasion and other corruption schemes.

Early this year, the US government blacklisted Mr Cartes, declaring that he “engaged in corruption before, during, and after his term” in power, including offering monthly bribes to loyal legislators.

Mr Pena, in his speech, pledged to instruct all government offices to collaborate with the attorney-general’s office and international efforts to combat drug and human trafficking and money laundering.

“We are going to work hard so that politics stops being a temptation for organised crime,” Mr Pena said.

Mr Pena pledged before the Taiwanese vice-president to maintain strong diplomatic ties with the self-governing island.

Paraguay is the only South American country that maintains diplomatic ties with Taiwan and not with China. AFP