Paraguayan President Santiago Peña was hospitalised on Monday after becoming ill while attending the G20 conference in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
“We inform you that the President of the Republic, Santiago Peña, was treated today at the Samaritano Hospital (Botafogo) in Rio de Janeiro due to an indisposition,” Paraguayan authorities said in a statement on Monday evening.
Peña, 46, was transported to Samaritano Hospital in Botafogo for treatment after experiencing “malaise” in the afternoon, according to AFP.
According to the hospital’s medical bulletin, he underwent diagnostic testing, and his condition was stabilised.
“The head of state is doing well, and his current state of health is stable,” the hospital statement added.
Witnesses reported that Peña was transported by ambulance from the summit venue to the hospital.
Some Latin American media sites speculated that the president complained from chest symptoms, but this was not officially confirmed.
“I spoke with President Peña, who is in Rio de Janeiro’s Samaritano Hospital after a slight illness. He is doing well and awaiting the results of medical tests,” Paraguay’s Vice President Pedro Alliana said on the social network X.
Although Paraguay is not a member of the G20, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva welcomed the Paraguayan president to the summit.
Prior to his health issue, he had discussed Paraguay’s economic challenges, especially poverty reduction, with other global leaders.
