Senator Gustavo Leite officially resumed his seat in the Senate this Wednesday after 11 months as Paraguay's ambassador to the United States. His return was formalized by the president of Congress, Basilio "Bachi" Núñez, who welcomed him as an "important reinforcement" for the ruling party's bloc.
In his reappearance in the chamber, Leite defended his diplomatic tenure, stating he worked to elevate Paraguay's name and establish a partnership relationship with Washington. He highlighted meetings with 15 American legislators from both parties and assured that his work will yield future investments, trade agreements, and educational cooperation with elite universities.
The senator also mentioned a meeting of about ten minutes with the President of the United States, Donald Trump, which he described as "one of the most enriching meetings" of his life. Regarding the content of the conversation, Leite avoided giving details, promising to reveal them only in the future, and did not confirm whether the topic of sanctions against former president Horacio Cartes was discussed.
On the other hand, the opposition strongly criticized the brief diplomatic mission. Senator Rafael Filizzola of the Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) described it as "a very expensive vacation for the State," estimating a cost of over G. 2 billion for the public treasury without visible concrete results for the country. Filizzola also rejected the narrative that the lifting of U.S. sanctions against Cartes represents a "historic achievement," arguing it was a political decision that served particular interests.
In addition to defending his diplomatic agenda, Leite stated he used his time in the United States for reflection on Paraguay's fiscal situation, concluding that "the money has run out" and that a $400 million cut in superfluous budget spending is necessary, redirecting resources to areas like health and education.