Presidential elections in Paraguay are single-round, and the current head of state, Mario Abdo Benítez, could no longer run for another mandate. The Constitution allows for only one five-year term of office.
Peña called on Paraguayans for unity after the preliminary results were announced. “The time has come to put aside differences. From tomorrow we will start building the country we all want, without great inequalities,” he said, according to La Nación newspaper, who previously served as finance minister. He will take over the presidency in August.
The president has a central decision-making role in Paraguay. He is also the Prime Minister. Peña faces major challenges, according to the media. Above all, he will have to start an economy heavily dependent on agriculture and reduce the budget deficit.
It will also have to face pressure from soy and beef producers who want to give up exports to Taiwan in order to tap into the huge Chinese market. Paraguay is one of 13 countries in the world that maintain official diplomatic relations with Taiwan.
Peña will also have to deal with a lot of social discontent, corruption and the drug trade. Paraguay, a country between Bolivia, Argentina and Brazil, is a popular transit country for illegal narcotics transactions.
A Paraguayan gang boss escaped from prison disguised as a woman
Cocktail
