Crisis-hit Paraguay impeaches president, replaces him with VP

Asuncion, Paraguay – Pedro Alliana became president of Paraguay on Friday following the impeachment of his predecessor over a massive banking crisis that locked almost half the country out of their accounts. Senators appointed Alliana, the former vice president, shortly after voting to remove Santiago Pena over the chaotic collapse of a bank to which he had links. Senate President Basilio Nunez declared Pena “guilty of poor performance in his duties” after 44 out of 45 senators voted in favor of impeachment, with one lawmaker absent.