An investigation by Ultima Hora has revealed that 109 employees of the Itaipú Binational entity earn more than Paraguay's President Santiago Peña, whose monthly salary is G. 37,908,800. The report, based on payroll data obtained by the outlet, highlights several high-earning officials and raises questions about dual compensation and transparency.
The highest earner identified is Iris Magnolia Mendoza, the executive legal director of Itaipú and wife of Senator Silvio “Beto” Ovelar. According to the March payroll, Mendoza receives G. 156,517,106 per month—four times the president's salary—comprising a base salary of G. 53,330,600 and a bonus of G. 103,186,506.
Second on the list is Justo Zacarías Irún, the Paraguayan general director of the Yacyretá Binational entity (EBY), who earns G. 106,871,738 monthly. Ultima Hora notes that this amount quintuples at year-end due to bonuses and that Irún also collects a monthly pension of G. 32,774,840 as a former deputy.
Four area directors each earn G. 103,186,506: technical director Hugo Osvaldo Zárate Chávez, executive coordination director Julio Rodrigo Paredes Duarte (also general attorney of the Colorado Party), financial director Rafael Demetrio Lara Valenzuela, and executive administrative director Justino Óscar Abrahan Caballero (also general attorney of the Colorado Party).
The report also identifies several government officials who serve as Itaipú councilors and receive double salaries. In March, councilors earned G. 82,549,205 from Itaipú. Among them are:
- Roberto Moreno, legal advisor to the presidency, who also received G. 32,617,069 from the Executive branch, totaling G. 115,166,274.
- Public Works Minister Claudia María Centurión, who earned G. 82,549,205 as a councilor plus G. 33,917,069 as minister and G. 258,305 in travel allowances, for a total of G. 116,724,579.
- Foreign Minister Rubén Ramírez Lezcano, who received G. 82,549,205 from Itaipú, plus G. 32,617,069 in ministerial salary and G. 26,072,793 in travel allowances, totaling G. 141,239,067.
Other councilors listed include ANDE head Félix Sosa, presidential chief of staff Javier Giménez, former Finance Minister Carlos Fernández Valdovinos, and Héctor Federico Richer Becker. Ultima Hora notes that Sosa and Giménez appear on Itaipú payrolls but not in data published by the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF), suggesting they may only collect the councilor stipend.
The outlet criticizes the lack of transparency, stating that Itaipú's payrolls are blocked from public access, similar to those of EBY, and that payments for travel allowances are not disclosed.