Paraguay’s President, Santiago Peña, was discharged from a Rio de Janeiro hospital on Tuesday after spending the night there due to an unexpected health scare during the G20 summit. Peña, 46, was rushed to Samaritano Hospital after experiencing chest pains, with witnesses reporting that he was quickly taken away by ambulance from the summit venue.
The hospital confirmed that Peña was discharged early in the morning, with doctors clearing him of any major health concerns. They reassured the public that there were no signs of heart trouble or any serious medical issues. Peña later appeared in a video released by the Paraguayan presidency, assuring the public that he had fully recovered.
Paraguay’s Health Minister, María Teresa Barán, stated that Peña’s test results came back normal, and though he was advised to rest, his health was in good condition. Despite Paraguay not being a G20 member, Peña was invited to the summit by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, along with other non-member leaders.
Before his health scare, Peña had been actively engaged in discussions at the summit, delivering a presentation on Paraguay’s economic situation, particularly focusing on poverty reduction efforts. In the video, Peña appeared upbeat, reflecting on an emotional few days, including celebrating his birthday on Saturday and Paraguay’s recent football match against Bolivia in a World Cup qualifier.
He attributed his brief health issue to the emotional strain from these events but assured the public he was feeling strong and ready to continue representing his country at the G20 meetings.
