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Santiago Peña was born in Asunción and is 44 years old. He is an economist. At the age of 32, he was already director of the Central Bank and was the youngest Minister of Finance in Paraguay. Today he is seeking the presidency for the Colorado Party, a centenary movement that supported the Alfredo Stroessner dictatorship and has governed the country almost without interruption since the return to democracy in 1989. In this interview with RFI, conducted in his opulent home with pool in Asunción, says that if he wins he will maintain Paraguay’s relationship with Taiwan instead of with China and will move the Paraguayan embassy to Jerusalem, as did his political boss, former President Horacio Cartes, sanctioned for corruption by the United States.
RFI: The United States has sanctioned former President Horacio Cartes and high-ranking Colorado officials for corruption. What do you think of these sanctions?
Santiago Pena: I think we have to look at the facts. The United States has a law and uses that law to allow whoever enters its country having complete freedom to do so and, obviously, apply economic sanctions on its financial system. I believe that the people who are affected by these sanctions have the right and should also have the obligation, in some cases, when they are public and political figures, to defend themselves. It is what Cartes has said, who denies the accusations. The sanctions are about the conduct of individuals and should not affect the relationship of the United States with either the Colorado Party or Paraguay.
RFI: Paraguay is the only country in the region that recognizes Taiwan. If he wins the presidency, what will the relationship with China be like?
Santiago Pena: Paraguay has a historical relationship with Taiwan and this relationship cannot simply be quantified in economic terms. There is more than trade. Trade is important, we need to make progress, but we also have to understand that relations have to be based on democratic values. That does not mean that countries that do not have a democratic culture should be rejected. We are respectful, but yes, we believe there is tremendous value in our relationship with Taiwan. Paraguay has to develop its own muscle before it can deepen trade relations with a country like China. Mainland China is Paraguay’s main supplier of goods and buys Paraguayan soybeans. Paraguay is a large producer of organic sugar that goes to China, so I think that we should not be mistaken into thinking that a change in the diplomatic relationship will bring the solution to all Paraguayans.
RFI: Paraguay was one of the few countries in the world that in 2018 moved its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, although months later it backtracked. What do you think of the relationship with Israel?
Santiago Pena: I strongly believe that the embassy should be in Jerusalem. I was in Israel two years ago, the president has his residence in Jerusalem, the Congress has its headquarters in Jerusalem and they recognize Jerusalem as their capital. Paraguay was one of the determining votes at the United Nations for the creation of Israel and from that moment on we have been bound by ties of enormous affection. My intention is for the embassy to return to Jerusalem.
