Hernán Rivas

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.

The scandal involving fake university degrees in Paraguay, with over 250 confirmed frauds and suspicions surrounding 1,500 more, has exposed a structural crisis in higher education that has led to government intervention in universities and triggered investigations by Congress and the Public Prosecutor's Office.

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 president of the Magistrates' Impeachment Jury, Alicia Pucheta de Correa, proposed, in her personal view, a reform that would require all members of the body to be legal professionals and retired university law professors, in order to remove the influence of traditional political parties and reduce the perception of political persecution.

Judge Dina Marchuk Santacruz, known as the "No Tears" judge, remained in office until age 75 after the Supreme Court of Justice unanimously approved in November 2025 the irremovability of her and 31 other magistrates who met the constitutional and legal requirements.

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.

The Colorado caucus in the Chamber of Deputies postponed until mid-July the vote on the bill requiring a law degree and ten years of legal practice to serve on the Magistrates' Trial Jury, paving the way for the selection of new members of the body at the beginning of that same month.

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.

Senator Esperanza Martínez threatens to leave the Senate special commission investigating the "degree mafia" if there is no genuine investigation free from political interference, after the Cartismo movement appointed Patrick Kemper to chair the body.

Opposition lawmakers dismissed the Comptroller General's Office report, which found no irregularities in President Santiago Peña's asset growth but failed to examine the period during which his wealth increased by approximately 20 billion guaraníes, as a whitewash.

Colorado Party deputy Yamil Esgaib refuses to show his business administration degree, questioned because it was issued by the same university involved in the scandal of former senator Hernán Rivas. He says he has nothing to hide but will only present the document 'when he feels like it.'

Javier 'Chaqueñito' Vera, former Paraguayan senator, failed to submit his asset declaration within the legal 15-day period after being removed from Congress. The Comptroller General's Office has opened an administrative proceeding that could result in a fine of up to 100% of his senator salary, about 32 million guaraníes. Vera justified the delay as a consequence of the stress of expulsion and said he 'will have to sell his body' to pay the penalty.

Independent Senator Eduardo Nakayama has asked Senate President Basilio Núñez to investigate the authenticity of academic degrees held by staff receiving bonuses, amid suspicions of forgery linked to Sudamericana University.

Paraguayan ambassador to Washington, Gustavo Leite, met with Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau to formalize his farewell. Leite will return to Asunción in mid-July to retake his Senate seat, prompting a new substitution in the Colorado Party bench.

The departures of Norma Aquino, Javier "Chaqueñito" Vera, Hernán Rivas, and Erico Galeano from the Paraguayan Senate, amid corruption scandals, fake degrees, and criminal convictions, reveal the erosion of the political shield of the ruling Cartismo faction and the power of citizen and media pressure.

The National Agency for Evaluation and Accreditation of Higher Education (Aneaes) requested the Ministry of Education and the National Council for Higher Education (Cones) to intervene in more than 100 law courses that have never undergone mandatory accreditation. The request, made on May 4, has been ignored so far, while the scandal involving former senator Hernán Rivas exposes weaknesses in the diploma registration system.

Senator Esperanza Martínez denounces resistance from the ruling party to the creation of a special commission to investigate up to 2,500 suspected university degrees, following the scandal of former senator Hernán Rivas that exposed a possible fraud network that may have benefited public office holders, including within the justice system.

Paraguay's Comptroller General's Office has initiated a summary proceeding against former Senator Javier 'Chaqueñito' Vera for failing to submit his sworn asset declaration within the legal 15-business-day deadline after leaving office. Vera claims forgetfulness and says he is organizing the documentation, while the Comptroller's Office warns that the fine could reach 100% of his salary, depending on the days of delay.

Paraguay's Magistrates Council passed over prosecutor Deny Yoon Pak, who led the mega-operation A Ultranza against drug trafficking, and chose Aldo Cantero, known as 'Aldo Canta 50' for allegedly negotiating cases, to join the shortlist for judge. The decision drew criticism from legal experts and accusations that the body prioritizes political loyalties over merit.

President Santiago Peña called for judicial cases involving legislators to be treated with the same criteria, regardless of party, while commenting on the situations of former senators Erico Galeano and Hernán Rivas. He also supported the work of ANEAES in reviewing university degrees.

Prosecutor General Emiliano Rolón replaced Deputy Prosecutor Soledad Machuca as head of UDEA with Nancy Salomón. Machuca, accused of shelving a complaint against former Senator Hernán Rivas, faces proceedings before the JEM and was called a "black monk" by Senator Yolanda Paredes.

President Santiago Peña stated that at the end of his term in 2028, he will be a senator for life, contradicting the bill that allows former presidents to run for elective office. He also commented on the fake diploma scandal of Hernán Rivas and the case of former senator Erico Galeano.

The president of the Paraguayan Congress, Basilio "Bachi" Núñez, expressed support for opposition Senator Eduardo Nakayama's proposal to audit all public employees who obtained benefits with suspected university degrees. The initiative follows scandals involving former Colorado Party senators Hernán Rivas and Erico Galeano, and aims to combat corruption and influence peddling in the public sector.