May 1, 2023
no. 135
The Republic of Paraguay, a diplomatic ally of the Republic of China (Taiwan), held general elections on April 30 to elect its president, vice president, and members of the National Congress. The elections were completed peacefully and smoothly. With more than 98 percent of the votes counted, Paraguay’s Superior Court of Electoral Justice announced that presidential candidate Santiago Peña and vice presidential candidate Pedro Alliana of the governing party, the Colorado Party (Asociación Nacional Republicana, ANR), had won nearly 43 percent of the votes. This marked a significant lead over presidential candidate Efraín Alegre of the Concertacion coalition (Concertación Nacional), who won approximately 27 percent of the votes, earning him second place. Certain to be elected as the next president of Paraguay, Mr. Peña has already issued a victory statement.
R.O.C. (Taiwan) Ambassador to Paraguay José Chih-cheng Han promptly congratulated the Paraguayan president-elect and vice president-elect on behalf of President Tsai Ing-wen and Vice President Lai Ching-te. Taiwan profoundly admires the Paraguayan people for demonstrating their strong commitment to democracy and smoothly completing the elections.
In his election campaign, President-elect Peña called for the advancement of economic and trade diplomacy, the establishment of free kindergartens, a crackdown on illicit drugs, the elimination of poverty, the generation of job opportunities, and employment assistance for youth. Based on such shared values as democracy and freedom, as well as the traditional friendship between the two countries, Taiwan will further deepen cooperation and exchange with the new government of Paraguay so as to advance the interests of the peoples of both countries to the greatest possible extent. (E)