Luque

Expo Madera 2026 brings together 17 countries in Luque through Saturday, September 12, to promote Paraguay’s forest industrialization. Sector exports reached US$101 million in 2025 and totaled US$59.9 million in the first seven months of 2026.

Paraguay’s Ministry of the Interior projects increasing the National Police force to 42,611 officers by December 2026, with 5,000 new graduates, stronger training and internal controls, while Minister Enrique Riera acknowledges that the expansion will not eliminate the sense of insecurity.

Asunción plans to invest US$100 million, financed by the World Bank, in transforming the Costanera, including urban works, housing and the relocation of 550 families from La Chacarita. The plan also provides for a first railway phase reaching Luque, with possible later extensions to Areguá and Ypacaraí.

Santiago Peña has proposed turning Paraguay into a regional logistics hub by expanding the Paraguay-Paraná Waterway and the Bioceanic Corridor, improving air connectivity and modernizing institutions. The government’s goal is to gradually double the volume of river cargo.

Women account for 16% of mayoral candidacies in Paraguay’s 2026 municipal elections, up from 12.9% in 2021, while they represent 32% of registrations for Municipal Councils, according to the Supreme Tribunal of Electoral Justice, which is providing training to expand women’s political participation.

Paraguay’s national doctors’ strike suspended nonurgent consultations and surgeries for a second day as the National Medical Union demands pay increases, job stability and better conditions, while the government and Congress seek negotiations amid budget constraints.

Paraguay has received its fifth A-29 Super Tucano aircraft, with the sixth and final one to be delivered in September, in an investment of 100 to 150 million dollars that the government considers crucial to combat clandestine flights and strengthen air sovereignty.

The 27th edition of the National Prayer Marathon, organized by Fundación Jesús Responde with support from evangelical entities, gathers faithful for 24 hours at the CONMEBOL complex in Luque and in other cities to pray for various causes in Paraguay.

Paraguay's airports recorded the highest passenger traffic of the year in July, with over 122,000 boardings and deboardings, according to Dinac.

Former Senator Enrique Bacchetta alerted the Chamber of Deputies in 2020 about doubts regarding Hernán Rivas' law degree, whose trial for using a false document reveals certificates with serious spelling errors and testimony from a former university rector who claims to have signed it inside a car without ever seeing Rivas attend classes.

President Santiago Peña celebrates the expansion of the Zero Hunger program, which serves over one million students, while Senator Ignacio Iramain criticizes the lack of reliable measurement of its real impact, pointing to operational failures and the absence of a baseline for evaluation.

Paraguay's Supreme Court dismissed the money laundering case against Óscar Rubén González Chaves due to the statute of limitations, but upheld his conviction for illicit enrichment, ordering a new jury for sentencing and his immediate house arrest.

Paraguay has assumed the presidency of the Network of National Public Investment Systems of Latin America and the Caribbean (Red SNIP) for the first time, for the 2026-2028 period, and has presented its progress in incorporating climate criteria and evolving towards a more strategic National Public Investment System.

In anti-drug operations, Paraguay's National Anti-Drug Secretariat (SENAD) destroyed 12 tons of marijuana in Amambay, Brazilian police intercepted a helicopter carrying cocaine coming from Paraguay, and agents arrested youths linked to the Rotela Clan for micro-trafficking in Luque and a suspect in a shooting in Asunción.

The Colorado Party held a unity rally in Luque to launch its municipal campaign, while pre-candidate Arnoldo Wiens rejected the event, accused the cartismo faction of corruption, and faced internal criticism for his stance.

The Colorado Party launched its campaign for the municipal elections in Luque, emphasizing unity and harmony, despite the notable absences of figures like Mario Abdo Benítez and Arnoldo Wiens.

The sewer system project in Mariano Roque Alonso, financed with over US$ 160 million, is at a standstill, with the Ministry of Public Works and Communications (MOPC) and the municipal government trading accusations over who is responsible for the delay related to the construction land.

Strong winds in Paraguay have caused widespread power outages, multi-million-dollar agricultural losses in Caaguazú, and wildfires that have burned hundreds of hectares in Misiones, as authorities work to restore normalcy.

Paraguayan President Santiago Peña has advanced his anti-corruption plan with support from the United Arab Emirates, focusing on digitalization and transparency to optimize public spending.

The Asunción Municipal Board approved the 2025 budget, which covers both the previous and current administrations, amid criticism from the opposition, which labeled the decision a "whitewashing" of a government targeted by corruption allegations.

The official campaign period for Paraguay's 2026 municipal elections began on Thursday, July 16, while the electoral authority is also maintaining the final deadline for the submission of political financing reports.

The MADES environment ministry has shut down the Laguna Blanca tourist complex in San Pedro due to unauthorized construction in the protected area and improper waste disposal.

Two former employees of Paraguay's tax and customs authority, DNIT, have been ordered to stand trial for extortion and corruption after being accused of demanding cash payments to release a shipment at the Luque airport.

The governments of Paraguay and the United States issued a joint statement denouncing cyber espionage operations against Paraguayan state networks, which they attribute to actors linked to the Chinese government.