Pedro Aliana, after three years as Vice President, has been elected to the presidency of Paraguay following recent political crises. This former basketball player, recognized as a prominent figure in the ruling party, was sworn in on Friday and took over the leadership of the country after the ousting of former President Santiago Peña.
Critical Economic Situation
Aliana assumed the presidency at a time when the country is facing a severe financial crisis. The sudden collapse of the Yuno Bank has led to the freezing of savings for half of the adult population of Paraguay. At his swearing-in, he promised to resolve this issue before the end of his term in August 2028.
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Political and Personal Background
Aliana was born on February 19, 1974, in the city of Pilar and rose to prominence with the support of former President Horacio Cartes. He joined the Paraguayan national basketball team in 1991 and was involved in business before entering politics. His life has been accompanied by many challenges, including the horrific kidnapping and murder of his brother in 2003. Additionally, in 2018, he was diagnosed with leukemia and announced in 2019 that he had overcome the disease after treatment in Brazil.
Aliana has been politically active from a young age, with both of his parents serving on the local council. He first ran for the mayoralty of his hometown in 2006 but was elected as the governor of the Ñeembucú region in 2008. He served as a member of parliament from 2013 to 2023 and held the position of Speaker of the House.
Although there have been many criticisms over the years regarding the hiring of family members in government, political observers considered him one of the key figures for leading the ruling party. In 2025, Cartes publicly supported him and encouraged him as the "future president of the republic." However, after his relationship with Cartes deteriorated, Aliana declared his independence, stating that loyalty should not be mistaken for "blind obedience."
Ultimately, Aliana seized his chance for the presidency following Peña's ousting and currently bears the responsibility of leading the country amid a political crisis.
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