Paraguayan President Santiago Pena is attempting to market the country as a burgeoning destination for foreign investment. But weak rule of law and illicit enterprises continue to permeate Paraguay’s political institutions, threatening to set back Pena’s agenda, the country’s progress and wider regional security.
Paraguay’s recent elections seemed to deliver a clean sweep to the long-dominant Colorado Party and its presidential candidate, Santiago Pena. Yet the apparent scale of the Colorado victory is deceptive. Pena is unlikely to enjoy a political honeymoon, nor have things entirely his way in terms of policymaking.
It’s hard to imagine that Paraguay’s elections would have repercussions for China, or that Taiwan’s status would be of interest to Paraguayan voters. But that is exactly what just occurred Sunday, when one of the top issues in Paraguay’s elections was whether or not to end diplomatic relations with Taiwan and establish them with China.
