Rep. Norma Torres, D-Pomona, was among the five-member presidential delegation announced Saturday by President Joe Biden to attend Tuesday’s inauguration of Santiago Peña as president of Paraguay.
Peña was elected April 30 to succeed Mario Abdo BenÃtez, a fellow member of the National Republican Association-Colorado Party which has held the presidency for all but five years since 1948 and was the sole legal party from 1947-62.
Paraguay’s constitution limits its president to one five-year term.
The U.S. State Department issued a statement May 1 saying “We look forward to working with President-elect Peña and his government to advance common interests like fighting corruption and impunity and advancing security and economic growth for the benefit of both our countries.
“Our common interests and shared democratic values will continue to underpin the historic partnership between the people of Paraguay and the United States.”
The 44-year-old Peña was the nation’s finance minister from 2015-17, has taught economics at the Catholic University of Asunción and served on leadership boards for the Central Bank of Paraguay and Banco Amambay. He has a master’s degree from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs.
Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland will lead the delegation to the Paraguayan capital of Asunción. The delegation also consists of Marc Ostfield, the U.S. ambassador to Paraguay, Francisco O. Mora, the U.S. ambassador to the Organization of American States, and Todd D. Robinson, the assistant secretary of state for the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs.