Costanza Pena, the daughter of former Paraguayan President Santiago Pena, has ignited controversy after posting a photo of herself wearing a t-shirt emblazoned with the slogan "Tax The Poor." The 21-year-old economics and history student at Columbia University's image quickly drew criticism, particularly as her father is currently under investigation following the collapse of Ueno Bank.
The scandal emerged as Santiago Pena, who was president of Paraguay until recently, faced mounting pressure after the seizure of Ueno Bank, the country's fifth-largest lender. The bank's collapse has reportedly left nearly three million consumers unable to access their accounts. Pena's own political party turned against him, leading to his resignation and subsequent house arrest on suspicion of breach of trust and influence peddling.
University Campus Reaction
Sources report that Costanza Pena's t-shirt choice has been labeled "tacky" by some of her Columbia classmates. One student told the Daily Mail that Pena's message was "tone deaf" and that she was either "hating her father or is really f***ing dumb." Some on the Ivy League campus have even called for the university to expel her. In response to the public outcry, Costanza Pena has made her Instagram profile private and deactivated her LinkedIn account.
Political Fallout in Paraguay
Santiago Pena's political career ended abruptly as all 44 senators voted to remove him from office. He announced his resignation on Thursday, marking the end of a presidency previously considered one of South America's most stable. Pedro Alliana, Pena's vice president, was sworn in as interim president and will serve until elections scheduled for 2028.
Pena was placed under house arrest on Friday. He has denied wrongdoing but faces accusations of manipulating regulatory oversight, institutional cover-ups, and conflicts of interest. Prosecutors allege he used his political power to direct hundreds of millions of dollars in public funds to Ueno Bank, where he was reportedly a shareholder. He could face up to 10 years in prison if convicted.
Protests erupted in Paraguay's capital, Asuncion, following the central bank's seizure of Ueno. The central bank announced on Saturday that it had disbursed the equivalent of $159 million to 1.2 million individuals, with more payments expected over the weekend. Pena appeared before prosecutors in Asuncion on Saturday to address the allegations.