Santiago Pena, Paraguay's New President, Navigates Diplomatic Challenges with Taiwan

Santiago Pena, Paraguay's new president, faces a challenging balancing act as he takes office, needing to navigate ties with Taiwan that have hurt local farmers' exports to China, pressure from farmers, rising crime, and a U.S. probe into his political mentor. Pena, an economist from the conservative Colorado party, aims to address security concerns, tame prices, ensure access to healthcare, and encourage private enterprise. He also plans to create 500,000 new jobs in five years to boost the country's farm-driven economy. Critics question his political experience and view him as a puppet for his mentor, former President Horacio Cartes.