Paraguay Politics Explained, Who Holds Power in 2026

PARAGUAY · POLITICS

One party, one term limit and one open succession race shape who rules in Asunción. Here is who holds each office in October 2026.

Paraguay politics in October 2026 turns on one party, the Colorados, and one question: who succeeds President Santiago Peña in 2028. The constitution bars him from a second term, so the race is already open.

On Sunday, 18 October 2026, former president Horacio Cartes said his faction will field no candidates in the 2027 party primaries. That opened a split between his supporters and the camp around Peña and Vice President Pedro Alliana.

This guide names the office holders as of 20 October 2026, from the cabinet to the courts, governors and opposition. More coverage sits on the Rio Times Paraguay page.

It uses official pages first, then Paraguayan newspapers such as ABC Color, Última Hora and La Nación. Every figure carries its date, and dollar amounts are quoted as published in US$.

How Paraguay Politics Works

Paraguay is a presidential republic, so the president is both head of state and head of government. No prime minister shares the job.

Voters elect the president and vice president together, by simple majority in a single round. The constitution sets a five-year term that cannot be extended and bars re-election in any case.

Peña, a Colorado, won the election of Sunday, 30 April 2023 with about 42.7% of the vote. He took office on Tuesday, 15 August 2023, so his term ends in August 2028.

Congress has two chambers: a 45-seat Senate elected nationwide and an 80-seat Chamber of Deputies elected by department. The country is also split into 17 departments, each with an elected governor.

The governing party is the Colorado Party, formally the National Republican Association (ANR), a conservative party. Chamber president Raúl Latorre says it has more than 3.3 million members among just over 6 million Paraguayans.

For the country’s background read Paraguay Explained. For foreign policy read Paraguay Geopolitics Explained 2026.

The President, the Vice President and the Cabinet

Santiago Peña leads the executive and chairs the Council of Ministers, which was due to meet on Tuesday, 20 October 2026. His vice president, Pedro Alliana, ran with him in 2023 and now seeks the presidency himself.

These ministers matter most for power in Asunción. Their posts come from ministry pages and official agendas of October 2026.

• Rúben Ramírez Lezcano, Foreign Minister. He signed two security agreements with US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau on Monday, 19 October 2026.
• Oscar Lovera, Minister of Economy and Finance, appointed by decree on 8 April 2026. His ministry put the annualised deficit at 3% of GDP, almost US$2 billion, on 19 October.
• Enrique Riera, Interior Minister, who oversees the National Police and internal security.
• Óscar González, a retired army general and Defense Minister.
• Marco Riquelme, Minister of Industry and Commerce, whose name has been floated as a possible running mate for Alliana.
• Juan Carlos Baruja, Minister of Urbanism, Housing and Habitat and a Cartes ally. He said on 18 October he will join no presidential ticket, and Peña has said he will not be dismissed.
• Gustavo Villate, Minister of Information and Communication Technologies. China announced an entry ban and asset freeze against him on Monday, 12 October 2026, and he says he owns nothing there.

The Banco Central del Paraguay is led by president Carlos Carvallo Spalding. Its handling of a lender called ueno bank is now a political fight, covered below.

The Colorado Party and the Cartes Split

The ANR is run through factions called movements, which exist only for party elections. Honor Colorado is the movement of Horacio Cartes, president of Paraguay from 2013 to 2018 and now chairman of the party.

Cartes’s standing in Washington has changed. The US Treasury removed him and companies linked to him from its Global Magnitsky sanctions list on Monday, 6 October 2025.

The quarrel began over the 2028 ticket. ABC Color reports that Cartes backed Baruja instead, and Alliana said he would stay in the race.

On Sunday, 18 October, Baruja withdrew and Cartes announced on his X account that Honor Colorado will field no candidates in 2027. Latorre read that as the first time in four presidential elections that the movement will not run.

On Monday, 19 October, Senate president Basilio Núñez said he will work for Alliana’s 2028 candidacy. Cartes remains party chairman, and the party’s electoral tribunal opened registration for new movements on 19 October.

Registration of movements runs until Monday, 30 November 2026, with the primaries expected in December 2027. The electoral court sets the exact date.

Rio Times covered the first days of the rift in Paraguay VP Defies Cartes on 13 October. That report follows Alliana’s refusal to step aside.

Dissidents form a third pole around former president Mario Abdo Benítez. Arnoldo Wiens of its Añetete faction wants the 2028 nomination.

Former president Nicanor Duarte Frutos says Peña always planned to displace Cartes, which Hugo Meza rejects. Latorre, an Alliana ally, says he has never broken a political commitment.

Congress, Governors and Local Power

Basilio “Bachi” Núñez presides over the Senate and so over the National Congress, the Senate’s website shows. ABC Color says his hold on the post is at stake in the realignment.

Raúl Latorre, a Colorado, leads the Chamber of Deputies for 2026 to 2027. Hugo Meza, also a Colorado, is its first vice president.

In the April 2023 preliminary count the Colorados won 23 of 45 Senate seats and 48 of 80 Chamber seats. A Liberal-led alliance took 12 Senate seats, Paraguayo Cubas’s Cruzada Nacional took five, and small parties took the rest.

The Colorados also won 15 of 17 governorships in 2023. On Tuesday, 13 October 2026, 14 of the 15 Colorado governors met Peña and pledged support for Alliana.

Colorado governors run much of the school-meals programme Hambre Cero, which ABC Color puts at US$318 million in 2026. A caterers’ chamber head and a teachers’ union leader allege political pressure on hiring, and no government reply was found.

Guairá governor César Sosa is floated as Alliana’s running mate. Central’s Ricardo Estigarribia is a Liberal, one of two governors elected outside the ANR in 2023, and has announced a presidential bid.

On Sunday, 4 October 2026 the Colorados won 187 of 263 mayoralties. They lost Asunción, where Soledad Núñez beat Camilo Pérez by 133,325 votes to 128,301.

Analysts say the loss exposed rifts the party had hidden, as the Rio Times analysis of the vote explains. Both results matter for 2028.

The Courts, the Prosecutor and the Security Forces

The Supreme Court has nine justices in three chambers set in February 2026. On Thursday, 19 February 2026 they chose Alberto Martínez Simón as president for a term running to February 2027.

• Constitutional chamber: Gustavo Santander Dans (president), Víctor Ríos and César Diesel.
• Civil and commercial chamber: Alberto Martínez Simón (president), Eugenio Jiménez Rolón and César Garay.
• Criminal chamber: Luis María Benítez Riera (president, also first vice president of the court), Manuel Dejesús Ramírez Candia and Carolina Llanes Ocampos.

Emiliano Rolón is Attorney General, the head of the prosecution service, and asked for his 2027 budget in October 2026. Justice Víctor Ríos has been courted by Liberals, but Última Hora says a sitting justice cannot run and his candidacy looks closed.

The armed forces answer to Defense Minister González, and Peña ordered interim changes to several military commands on Thursday, 15 October 2026. The National Police has been led by commander César Silguero since he was sworn in on Thursday, 9 April 2026.

On Monday, 19 October 2026 Paraguay and the United States signed an exchange of notes on intercepting suspect civil aircraft. They also signed a memorandum of intent on a US border-screening system called PISCES.

The air agreement sits beside Law 6980, which lets the Air Force fire warning shots at suspected drug flights. See Paraguay Signs 2 Security Deals With US for the details.

The Opposition and the Rising Figures

The Liberal Party (PLRA) is the largest opposition party and is led by Alcides Riveros. It marked its 135th anniversary on Sunday, 18 October 2026, with a call for unity among rival candidates.

• Ricardo Estigarribia, governor of Central, has announced a presidential bid and wants the opposition candidate chosen on an open voter roll.
• Eduardo Nakayama, a senator who returned to the PLRA after a spell as an independent, plans to contest the Liberal nomination.
• Blas Llano, a former senator and PLRA president, has said he intends to run.
• Soledad Núñez, the opposition winner in Asunción, ran as Efraín Alegre’s vice-presidential candidate in 2023 and now has a national platform.
• Kattya González, a former senator pushed out by the Colorado bloc, is mentioned as a possible contender.

Miguel Prieto leads Yo Creo, a reform movement rooted in Ciudad del Este. ABC Color quotes Óscar Tuma saying Prieto holds a very wide lead over Colorado candidates.

That claim is unverified, so treat Prieto’s lead as unproven. Read Who Is Miguel Prieto for his profile.

In 2023 Paraguayo Cubas’s Cruzada Nacional took 22.9% of the presidential vote, behind the Liberal-led alliance with 27.5%. The opposition has visible leaders but, analysts say, no single machine.

Where Paraguay Stands in the Power Index

The Rio Times Latin America Power Index (October 2026 edition) ranks Paraguay 10th of 14 countries, with 36.0 points out of 100. It is the data base for this guide, and the full table sits on the Latin America Power Map.

Its six pillar scores are economic weight 33.1, state capacity and security 54.6, military means 41.8 and future resources 12.8. Diplomatic influence scores 21.9 and economic relationships 52.8.

State capacity is its strongest pillar, ranking 8th of 14, while future resources is the lowest score in the index. On the index’s alignment rule Paraguay sits closer to Washington, with 85 points out of 100, second only to Argentina.

The business lens is firmer. S&P Global Ratings lifted Paraguay to investment grade, BBB-, on 17 December 2025, and growth was 6.6% in 2025.

The central bank’s policy rate is 5.50%, and annual inflation was 1.7% in September 2026. Its July 2026 growth projection for the year is 4.5%, on an economy of US$49.3 billion in 2025.

Foreign Alliances and the Money Fights

Paraguay is the only South American country among Taiwan’s 12 diplomatic allies, and Peña’s government has kept that line. Minister Villate said after the Chinese sanctions that joint projects with Taiwan will move forward faster.

For the contest between Washington, Taipei and Beijing read Paraguay Geopolitics Explained 2026. This guide covers who decides, not what each power wants.

Money is the second fault line. The banking association Asoban said on Sunday, 18 October 2026 that the central bank’s answers on ueno bank were incomplete.

Senator Rafael Filizzola has filed a bill urging the removal of the whole bank board. A lawyer quoted by Última Hora says the law is unclear, and the executive would have to start any removal.

Dissident senator Mario Varela has raised concern about President Peña’s link to ueno bank, an institution Peña was once part of. The Rio Times report on the central bank board and the guide to who runs the economy cover the financial side.

What It Means for US Readers

For investors, the political risk sits inside the ruling party rather than between parties. The Colorados hold Congress and almost every governorship, so the open questions are Peña’s authority and the central bank dispute.

S&P’s BBB- rating and a 5.50% policy rate frame the market backdrop. The ministry expects the 2026 deficit to close at up to 3.2% of GDP, against 1.5% in the fiscal law.

For US foreign policy, Paraguay is a close partner that backs Taiwan and has signed security deals with Washington. A succession fight could test that line, so watch what each 2028 hopeful says about Taiwan.

For travellers, the party split does not by itself change entry rules. Check official travel advice before a trip.

What Is Not Known

The date of the 2027 Colorado primaries and of the 2028 general election has not been published. The electoral court is due to set the primary date in December 2026.

It is not known whether Cartes will seek another term as party chairman in 2027. It is also unclear which movement Peña’s camp will register.

Alliana’s running mate and Baruja’s next step are also open. Peña has said only that Baruja will stay in his ministry.

No pollster has published a head-to-head 2028 poll that this guide could verify, so claims about who leads are unconfirmed. The full texts of the 19 October US agreements are also unpublished.

Congress seat counts here are those elected in April 2023, and later substitutions were not checked. The reason for the April 2026 finance ministry change is not stated in the official biography.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who runs Paraguay in 2026?

President Santiago Peña, a Colorado, has led Paraguay since 15 August 2023. His term ends in August 2028 and the constitution bars re-election.

Who is Paraguay’s vice president?

Pedro Alliana, a Colorado, has been vice president since 2023. He says his 2028 presidential bid remains firm after a dispute with Horacio Cartes.

What did Horacio Cartes announce on 18 October 2026?

He said his Honor Colorado faction will field no candidates in the Colorado Party’s 2027 primaries. He remains party chairman, and the party opened registration for new factions on 19 October.

Which party controls Paraguay’s Congress?

The Colorado Party won 23 of 45 Senate seats and 48 of 80 Chamber seats in April 2023. Basilio Núñez leads the Senate and Raúl Latorre leads the Chamber of Deputies.

Who leads Paraguay’s opposition?

The Liberal Party, led by Alcides Riveros, is the largest opposition force. Miguel Prieto of Yo Creo, Governor Ricardo Estigarribia and Senator Eduardo Nakayama are among those positioning for 2028.

Can Santiago Peña run again in 2028?

No, he cannot. The constitution sets a five-year term that cannot be extended and says the president may not be re-elected in any case.

Who heads Paraguay’s Supreme Court?

Alberto Martínez Simón has presided since 19 February 2026, for a term running to February 2027. The court has nine justices split into three chambers.

Sources: Poder Judicial, new court authorities (February 2026); Senate of Paraguay; Chamber of Deputies of Paraguay; Ministry of Economy and Finance, minister biography; Ministry of Economy and Finance, authorities; Ministry of Industry and Commerce; US Treasury OFAC, recent actions (6 October 2025); Constitution of Paraguay; Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, diplomatic allies; World Bank, Paraguay; ABC Color (19 October 2026); ABC Color, Latorre interview (19 October 2026); ABC Color, movement registration (19 October 2026); ABC Color (19 October 2026); ABC Color, Hambre Cero (20 October 2026); ABC Color, US agreements (19 October 2026); ABC Color, fiscal deficit (19 October 2026); Ultima Hora (19 October 2026); Ultima Hora (19 October 2026); Ultima Hora (19 October 2026); Ultima Hora, Asuncion defeat (19 October 2026); Ultima Hora, PLRA (18 October 2026); Ultima Hora, Asoban (19 October 2026); Ultima Hora, central bank board (19 October 2026); Ultima Hora, 2027 budget requests (18 October 2026); La Nacion, 2023 results (1 May 2023); Última Hora, Interior Minister Riera (15 October 2026); Última Hora, armed forces (15 October 2026); La Nación, police commander sworn in (9 April 2026); Prensa Mercosur, Villate and China (13 October 2026); Última Hora, central bank and ueno bank (October 2026); Última Hora, inflation (2 October 2026); La Nación, policy rate and growth projection (24 July 2026); ABC Color, S&P rating (17 December 2025); ABC Color, presidential agenda (20 October 2026) (all accessed 20 October 2026). The Rio Times Latin America Power Index, October 2026 edition.