Senators slam Peña's report as 'inflated numbers' and 'repeated works'

Paraguayan senators have sharply criticized President Santiago Peña's annual report, with one calling it "bolaterapia" – a term implying inflated or fabricated numbers. Senator Eduardo Nakayama (Independent) expressed frustration that the report was not distributed in advance, preventing lawmakers from verifying its data. He pointed to previous instances, like the National Institute of Rural Development and Land (Indert) report, where claims of 10,000 titles were later found to be half that number. Nakayama suggested Peña's current economic figures might also be inflated, attributing the country's macroeconomic stability to long-term efforts rather than recent policies.

Senator Celeste Amarilla (PLRA) gave Peña a failing grade of "three" for his performance, citing a "lack of significant works" despite numerous figures presented. She argued that subsidies and claims of poverty reduction mask government inefficiency. Amarilla also noted that Peña repeated infrastructure projects, such as the Coronel Oviedo Hospital and the bioceanic route, which had been mentioned in previous reports. She stated that citizens continue to struggle financially, with "empty refrigerators and no money in their pockets."

Both senators expressed skepticism about the report's figures and the timing of their release. Nakayama indicated that they would now verify the economic data and corruption combat claims. Amarilla questioned the presentation of past projects as current achievements, highlighting a perceived disconnect between the reported progress and the daily realities faced by citizens.