![ASUNCION, PARAGUAY - APRIL 30: Paraguayan presidential candidate for the Colorado Party, Santiago Pena (C), his wife Leticia Ocampos de Pea (L) and the Paraguayan former President, Horacio Cartes (R) celebrate after winning the presidential elections in Asuncion, Paraguay on April 30, 2023. (Photo by Mayeli Villalba/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)](https://americasquarterly.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/GettyImages-1252455097-300x200.jpeg)
Paraguay: Santiago Peña to Run a Still-Divided Country
The victor will face challenges including ruling party divisions and a debate over relations with Taiwan.
![Paraguayan President Abdo Benitez speaks at the UN General Assembly while domestic political disputes heat up ahead of his party's primaries in December.](https://americasquarterly.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/GettyImages-1243387008-300x200.jpeg)
Paraguay Is Poised for a Turbulent Election Season
Corruption allegations and infighting in the dominant party point to an especially fraught road to the 2023 elections.
![AbdoBenitez_Triunfo](https://americasquarterly.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/AbdoBenitez_Triunfo-300x199.jpg)
Five Takeaways from Paraguay’s Presidential Election
Reading Time: 5 minutes
The ruling party held the presidency, but a close race and poor turnout suggest challenges ahead.