Paraguayan President Santiago Peña requested a 72-hour extension to submit his defense in the impeachment proceedings launched by the country’s Senate over the financial crisis triggered by the Central Bank’s decision to suspend Ueno Bank’s operations, leaving around half the population unable to access their money.

Peña — who’s resignation, on Thursday, was not accepted by Congress — had been summoned to appear before the Senate on Friday at 10 a.m. to defend himself and present evidence. However, he said he received the notification at 10:15 p.m. on Thursday, along with a 15-page indictment and a 300-page annex.

“They expect me to respond in less than 12 hours. That is not due process,” he said in a post on X.

In his request for an extension, sent to the Senate, he argued that “clearly, since this is a process that could result in a sanction, the guarantees of due process apply, including having sufficient time to choose a trusted attorney and exercise the right to a defense.”

“Undoubtedly, a period of less than 12 hours is insufficient for a process to meet the standards of the rule of law,” the president said.

He pedido una prórroga de 72 horas para ejercer mi defensa. Me notificaron a las 22:15 con un libelo acusatorio y........

© Buenos Aires Herald