Paraguayan President Santiago Peña was admitted to Rio de Janeiro’s Samaritano Hospital on Monday evening after experiencing a health issue while attending the G20 summit.
According to a statement from Paraguayan authorities, Peña was treated for a sudden illness at the Botafogo-based hospital.
A medical bulletin later confirmed that he had experienced a “malaise in the afternoon” and underwent diagnostic tests. Officials reassured the public that the president's health is stable and improving.
Did you read this?
Eyewitnesses reported seeing Peña transported by ambulance from the summit venue. Some Latin American media outlets speculated that he had experienced chest pains.
Paraguay’s Vice President Pedro Alliana addressed the situation on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), stating, “I spoke with President Peña, who is currently recovering at the Samaritano Hospital. He is doing well and awaiting the results of medical tests.”
Although Paraguay is not a member of the G20, Peña was invited to participate in the summit by Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who hosted the event.
Before his health issue, Peña had presented Paraguay’s progress in poverty reduction and its current economic status to the summit participants.
