Peña acts as 'little employee' of Cartes, says Paraguayan senator

Paraguayan Senator Rafael Filizzola has sharply criticized President Santiago Peña's decision to deliver his annual accountability report to Horacio Cartes, the president of the ruling Colorado Party and Peña's political mentor, before presenting it to the National Congress. Filizzola described the move as a "humiliation" for Peña, asserting that it clearly reveals Cartes, not the president, wields the real power in the country.

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It is a humiliation, but for him (Peña), not for Congress. We have the obligation to receive his report, we fulfill it, we await his report, but for him, as head of state, to have to go and report to a person who currently holds no public office, nor does he have the relevance to receive that report beforehand. It constitutes a humiliation for him because it clearly shows where the power lies and that the power is not in López Palace.

Peña's report to Cartes, who holds no public office but is considered Peña's political godfather, occurred 13 days before the legally mandated presentation to Congress. Filizzola stated that while Congress is obligated to receive the report, Peña's act of reporting to a private citizen, even one with significant political influence, diminishes his standing as head of state. "It is a humiliation for him (Peña), not for Congress," Filizzola said, adding that Peña appears to be "acting like a little employee."

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He is destroying the country's economy to start with, the country is over-indebted. Look, today we are already spending more on interest alone than on public works.

Beyond the political optics, Filizzola expressed deep concern over Paraguay's economic situation. He argued that the country is becoming "over-indebted" and that interest payments alone now exceed public works spending. He specifically criticized a recent decision involving the Institute of Social Security (IPS), alleging that its funds are being used to benefit Ueno Bank, a financial institution that reportedly had to have its regulations altered to qualify. Filizzola questioned the use of IPS funds for various business ventures, including an internet service, suggesting a pattern of questionable financial dealings under the current administration.

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He is handing over Paraguay's savings to a company, to a bank, to a bank that was recently a finance company, to a bank that they had to change all the regulations for it to qualify.