Election in Paraguay is won by a supporter of Taiwan

Santiago Pena, a former IMF economist and Paraguayan ex-finance minister, has claimed victory in Sunday's presidential election, extending the power of the Colorado Party. His two main rivals split the remaining vote, guaranteeing Pena and his running mate Pedro Alliana's victory in the single-round winner-takes-all presidential race. Pena was criticized by his center-left rival Alegre as a "servant" of Abdo's predecessor Horacio Cartes and a member of a deeply corrupt political force. He also promised to move Paraguay's embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Paraguay is the only remaining country in South America to have diplomatic relations with Taiwan and is one of just 13 countries in the world that officially recognize the island as "Republic of China." The opposition supported calls by local farming industries to review the policy and boost trade with Beijing, but Pena ignored the pledges and promised to maintain ties with Taipei.