Pena’s conservative Colorado Occasion was dealing with a troublesome problem from the left over corruption, and poverty.
Santiago Pena is on monitor for victory in Paraguay’s election, which might return the conservative Colorado Occasion to authorities after a tightly-contested marketing campaign that threatened to finish its seven-decade maintain on energy.
The 44-year-old economist and former finance minister had almost 43 p.c of votes solid, with almost 96 p.c of ballots counted, the nation’s electoral physique stated.
Left-wing rival Efrain Alegre, 60, of the Concertacion centre-left coalition was on 28 p.c, it stated.
Some 4.8 million of the South American nation’s 7.5 million individuals had been eligible to vote within the election for the president and legislature.
“Thanks for this Colorado victory, thanks for this Paraguayan victory,” Pena stated in a speech. Alegre had but to concede, however present President Mario Abdo congratulated Pena on Twitter, calling him “president-elect”.
Alegre, a lawyer, had a slim lead in opinion polls heading into the vote, elevating the prospect that he would possibly unseat the Colorado Occasion that has ruled virtually frequently since 1947 — by way of a dictatorship and for the reason that return of democracy in 1989.
Although they differ on financial and worldwide coverage, the 2 frontrunners are each socially conservative, defending robust anti-abortion rights and anti-gay marriage stances in an overwhelmingly Catholic nation.
Paraguay is amongst solely 13 nations to recognise Taipei over Beijing, and Alegre had promised to rethink this if he gained.
China considers self-ruled, democratic Taiwan a part of its territory, has not dominated out the usage of power to take management of the island, and has sought to isolate Taiwan on the worldwide stage.
Honduras shifted allegiance to Beijing in March, following Nicaragua in 2021, El Salvador in 2018, Panama in 2017, and Costa Rica in 2007.
Pena has stated he would retain ties with Taiwan, however transfer Paraguay’s embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
Paraguay beforehand moved its embassy in 2018, however reversed its determination inside months.
Alegre had campaigned on corruption within the Colorado Occasion, which has seen two of its high members lately hit with sanctions by the US over alleged corruption.
They embody Pena’s political mentor and president of the Colorado Occasion, former President Horacio Cartes.
Paraguay is ranked 137 out of 180 nations on Transparency Worldwide’s Corruption Perceptions Index.
Different election points included poverty, social inequality and escalating crime.