Why is Paraguay facing a banking and political crisis?

Paraguay is engulfed in political turmoil after a banking scandal put its president and major institutions under scrutiny.

At the centre is Ueno, a fast-growing digital lender, whose collapse has left millions of people unable to access their savings. But the fallout goes beyond the banking sector.

Congress has rejected President Santiago Pena’s resignation and is pressing ahead with impeachment proceedings. He’s accused of negligence and being complicit in an alleged cover-up of the bank’s insolvency.

So, what went wrong? Were regulators compromised by political influence? And who should be held accountable?

Presenter: Dareen Abughaida

Guests:

Daniel Duarte Braga – Journalist and contributing editor to The Paraguay Post

Mariano Machado – Principal Americas analyst at global risk intelligence firm, Verisk Maplecroft

Javier Farje – Historian specialising in Latin American affairs