Contraloría General de la República

The Vázquez Group, whose main bank received billions in public deposits from the social security institute IPS, expanded rapidly during the Peña administration, while the bank defends the legality of the operations.

The Paraguayan Ministry of Education and Sciences (MEC) has identified 13 public servants involved in irregularities within the diploma system, with 130,000 suspicious actions and 283 employees under investigation, while the Senate expands its inquiry to include 20 educational institutions, including the Universidad Sudamericana.

Congress President Bachi Núñez defends the appointment of fellow party members to the Comptroller General's Office, arguing it will break a cycle of convicted former comptrollers from the opposition. However, critics point to contradictions in his discourse on integrity, citing his recent support for figures under investigation and the ruling party's strategy of occupying key positions.

Opposition Senator Rafael Filizzola accuses the Peña administration of a lack of control and impunity in corruption cases, citing as examples the irregular deposit of IPS (the social security institute) funds in Ueno Bank, the alleged leniency towards former Seprelad (Secretariat for Money Laundering Prevention) head Óscar Boidanich, the shelving of complaints regarding Itaipú, and the president's acquittal in an asset investigation.

The Public Prosecutor's Office has requested that President Santiago Peña inform them whether he authorized a multi-million dollar out-of-court settlement for the social security institute IPS, as stated by the institution's former legal director, José González Maldonado, who is under investigation for breach of trust.

The mayor of Valenzuela, Mirtha Fernández, is on trial for embezzling G. 1.2 billion in a scheme involving phantom public works, which implicated municipal officials and construction companies.

Two council members and the former municipal accountant confirmed in a hearing that the mayor of Jesús de Tavarangüe, Víctor Garay, diverted approximately G 2.44 billion to a "parallel commission." The funds, which came from laws for cultural heritage, were used for substandard public works without a bidding process, according to the Public Prosecutor's Office's accusation of breach of trust.

The Paraguayan Senate has begun public hearings to evaluate 49 candidates for the positions of Comptroller General and Deputy Comptroller General. The process includes the current officeholder, Camilo Benítez, whose re-election is being questioned, and is expected to result in shortlists of three candidates each for the final selection by the Chamber of Deputies.

Senator Líder Amarilla accuses the ruling majority of imposing a "tyranny of the majority" by monopolizing oversight bodies such as the Comptroller General's Office, the Jury for the Impeachment of Magistrates (JEM), and the Council of the Judiciary.

The Comptroller General's Office has given the father-in-law of former senator Hernán Rivas 20 days to explain the source of funds for a mansion in Lambaré, while Rivas is also facing charges for failing to declare assets and for using an allegedly fake document.

The House of Representatives postponed for 15 days the analysis of a bill that provides for the payment of default interest to construction companies for halted public works, after lawmakers raised concerns about legal issues and the high fiscal cost.

Paraguay's National Constitution turns 34 this Saturday, June 20, marking the post-Stroessner dictatorship democratic era, but it faces threats of authoritarianism and noncompliance with its provisions, according to assessments by constitutional scholars and authorities.

Cartista senators have introduced a bill expanding the powers of the Comptroller General's Office to fine, prosecute, and take legal action against agencies that fail to comply with the Transparency Law (No. 5189/2014). The proposal amends Articles 8 and 9 of the law so that noncompliance constitutes an enforceable instrument and authorizes agreements with the Ministry of Finance for the collection of fines.

The Senate of Paraguay has set up a special commission to investigate an alleged scheme involving approximately 100,000 irregular university degrees issued between 2023 and 2025, of which roughly 60% correspond to programs lacking quality accreditation. The first institution under investigation is Universidad Sudamericana, the alma mater of former senator Hernán Rivas.

Three candidates — Édgar Hernán Sosa, Rubén Darío Robadín, and Óscar Enrique Rolón — are vying for the position of Comptroller General of the Republic in Paraguay, with expectations that new authorities will be chosen as early as November, following a process led by Congress.

The president of Paraguay, Santiago Peña, presented his third annual report to the Colorado Party, facing criticism from the opposition, which questions the priority given to the party over Congress.

The Chamber of Deputies rejected on Tuesday two requests for information addressed to President Santiago Peña — one regarding the expenses of his trip to the United States to attend the Albirroja's debut at the 2026 World Cup, and another concerning the Comptroller General's review of correspondence that validated the 2,400% increase in the president's assets over six years.

The Senate of Paraguay established a Special Investigation Commission on Monday, June 15, to investigate the issuance, sale, and use of allegedly fake or irregular university degrees, diplomas, and higher education certificates. This follows the scandal involving Universidad Sudamericana, which is believed to have issued around 2,500 irregular degrees over three to four years, a case that led to the resignation of former senator Hernán Rivas.

The former legal director of IPS, José González Maldonado, received Gs 412.5 million (Paraguayan guaraníes) in his personal account as legal fees from an out-of-court settlement of Gs 7.5 billion with Consorcio Hotelero Sudamericano, in a case under investigation for possible illicit enrichment and breach of trust.

The Chamber of Deputies of Paraguay was suspended for the second consecutive week after cartista (Colorado Party faction) deputy Yamil Esgaib threatened and provoked opposition member Raúl Benítez during the session, resulting in a loss of quorum and the session ending without any votes.

Conatel launched Tender No. 01/2026 for Mobile Broadband, approved by Board Resolution No. 1309/2026, to award radio spectrum licenses in the 2,300 MHz and 3,500 MHz bands for mobile broadband services and 5G technology through a simultaneous ascending auction with base prices ranging from US$1 million to US$1.6 million. Bids are due by July 10, 2026, amid oversight by the Comptroller General's Office regarding the previous spectrum award to Nubicom Paraguay S.A.

Lawyer Cecilia Pérez denounced that the referral of complaints about the Santiago Peña government's "dirty campaign" to the Comptroller General's Office by Attorney General Emiliano Rolón Fernández represents an attempt to close the case, pointing out procedural flaws, failure to preserve evidence, and disparity in treatment compared to other investigations.

President Santiago Peña lashed out at journalists who questioned his wealth growth, suggesting without evidence that a reporter might be receiving money from organized crime, while opposition legislators and a lawyer reported irregularities in the Comptroller General's investigation of his assets.

Prosecutor Jorge Arce, who was part of the team that requested the dismissal of charges against Horacio Cartes, has been assigned to investigate President Santiago Peña for alleged illicit enrichment, money laundering, and other crimes.