Paraguay
The Power Struggle for Leadership in Honor Colorado Grows and the 2028 Debate Remains Open
According to Última Hora, the Colorado ruling party is going through a period of internal tension between Horacio Cartes, Pedro Alliana and the circle around Santiago Peña. After the October municipal elections, it could become clear whether there is an agreement or a split in the movement.
Honor Colorado is going through an internal dispute over political leadership and the 2028 lineup, in a scenario in which, according to Última Hora, a tactical pause until the municipal elections on October 4 is combined with a growing power struggle between the sector led by Horacio Cartes, Pedro Alliana and the circle around President Santiago Peña.
The point of greatest tension came when Cartes promoted Housing Minister Juan Carlos Baruja as a possible running mate for Alliana in 2028. According to the Paraguayan newspaper, the vice president rejected that definition and said he will choose his ticket partner after the municipal elections. The episode deepened a conflict that had already been escalating between the Executive Branch and the Cartes-aligned leadership.
Amid that dispute, Senator Antonio Barrios, identified by Última Hora as one of the leaders closest to Cartes, described the moment as a “tense calm.” The priority, he said, is to preserve unity until the municipal elections so as not to affect the race for mayors and council seats.
The future of the ruling party, however, remains open. According to the morning paper, after October it will become clear whether Alliana keeps his candidacy within Honor Colorado, who his eventual running mate will be and how far Cartes is willing to concede. The lack of agreement, the outlet argues, could lead to a rupture in the bloc.
Among the factors weakening Cartes’ authority is the backing of Colorado governors for Peña. Última Hora reported that the 15 departmental leaders are leaning toward consolidating the Peña camp and that in recent months they have distanced themselves from the ANR leader in two events. It also said that this group coordinated with deputies to gain weight against the bloc of senators.
The vice presidency appears to be the main prize in the internal fight. In addition to Baruja, Última Hora mentions among the names in play Guairá Governor César Sosa, Deputy Raúl Latorre and Minister of Industry and Commerce Marco Riquelme, although the latter is the only one who rules out running.
The newspaper also placed Peña as the figure with the strongest growth within the ruling structure. It noted that the president increased his assets, that this increase led to a complaint and an investigation by the Public Ministry, and that his family is linked to ueno Holding. At the same time, it highlighted his international profile and his intention to remain active within the Colorado Party, with an eye on joining the Board of Directors, since he cannot seek reelection.
On the background of the crisis, opposition figures and analysts cited by Última Hora agreed that the dispute is about control of state business, especially in the financial system. Senator Ignacio Iramain said this is not an ideological internal battle, while political scientist Esteban Caballero linked Peña’s strengthening to his economic growth and spoke of a confrontation between groups with different interests.
Caballero also warned, according to the outlet, that a loss of support in the Senate could leave Peña highly constrained in the two years remaining in his term. He also linked to that fight the request for information by Cartista senators to the Central Bank of Paraguay about ueno bank and pointed to concerns over state funds tied to that entity.
In parallel, Última Hora highlighted the political weight of the Hambre Cero program, whose administration strengthened the governors. It also reported that the draft General Budget of the Nation foresees resources of G. 3.2 trillion, equivalent to USD 499.9 million, for that scheme in 2027 through the Ministry of Social Development and the governorates.
After a heated exchange with Cartes at his residence, Alliana publicly demanded that there be no impositions and called for decisions not to be made by a few. Peña, for his part, sought to lower the tone of the confrontation and said Cartes must be respected and harmony within the movement and the Colorado Party must be prioritized.
Sources
About this note. Written by El Notero with the assistance of artificial intelligence, based on what was published by the cited outlet. El Notero did not do its own reporting on this event.
