Paraguay's Senate has removed President Santiago Peña from office and installed Vice President Pedro Alliana in his place, after lawmakers voted to convert the collapse of Ueno Bank into a mandatory national queue. Under the new presidency, every one of the roughly 6.4 million citizens is required to present themselves at a teller window in person to collect a refund, a process the government estimates will take until 2028.
President Alliana announced on Friday that no depositor would be left behind. «Every citizen who lost savings will be compensated, and each will receive their money in cash, counted aloud at the counter», he said. Officials have begun building temporary teller stalls on the grounds of Asunción's football stadium and along the Costanera, where tables now stretch for several kilometres. Ueno Bank's former staff, eight of whom remain in custody, have been reassigned to hand out the notes.
Peña, who had been accused of breaching his duties by retaining stakes in the group that controlled the bank, was barred from appearing in person and sent lawyers to request a 72-hour postponement. The Senate refused. Its new vice president, Antonio Barrios, has ordered that all senators queue at the first counter each morning to demonstrate the procedure, a habit the chamber's secretariat has adopted for its own staff.
Outside the Senate, hundreds gathered to celebrate. Jessica Aquino, 32, said: «Justice has happened. Now he must give us our money back and go to prison.» Police have been deployed in front of Peña's residence in case he attempts to join the line without an appointment.