Ueno Bank Crisis: Why Is Ex-Paraguayan President Santiago Pena's Daughter Facing Backlash Online? Explained

(MENAFN- AsiaNet News)

Paraguay has been in the news recently following a major political crisis stemming from the sudden collapse of Ueno Bank, leaving millions of customers and millions of depositors unable to access their savings after regulators intervened in the financial institution.

The crisis has become so severe that people, especially customers of Ueno Bank, across the country came out onto the streets and staged massive demonstrations in downtown Asunción and outside government headquarters. Approximately 3 million customers, nearly 60% of the country's population, found themselves abruptly locked out of their savings accounts.

Santiago Pena became the target of immense public fury, ultimately leading to his political downfall amid allegations of deep-seated corruption and conflict of interest. Pena was forced to submit his resignation on November 5. However, Congress rejected his resignation to strip him of life-tenure immunity, proceeding instead with a historic, unanimous impeachment vote.

Also Read:Paraguay Senate Impeaches President Santiago Peña Over Bank Crisis

Santiago Pena's Daughter In Spotlight Amid Ueno Bank Crisis

As former Paraguayan President Santiago Pena, who was placed under house arrest and transferred to a military facility to face criminal charges, including breach of trust and conflict of interest, his daughter, Constanza Pena, has drawn intense backlash on social media amid the ongoing Ueno Bank crisis.

Constanza is the second daughter of Santiago and his wife, Leticia Ocampos, and is currently studying financial economics at Columbia University in New York. However, the 21-year-old found herself at the centre of controversy after posting a picture that angered and outraged citizens across the country.

Constanza posted a picture of her gym mirror selfie on her Instagram story, and in the photograph, she was seen wearing a shirt with the slogan 'Tax the Poor' (along with the acronym 'T.T.P.' and 'Est. 1969'). The timing of the post could not have been worse, catching the public's attention at a moment when the country was reeling from severe financial distress.

Daughter of right-wing Paraguay president Santiago Peña, who just resigned over crashing the economy and stealing half the country's savings, posted this story of herself with a shirt saying "Tax the Poor."

She goes to Columbia U btw, where tuition is 20x the average salary. Joseph Bouchard (@GeopolWonk) November 6, 2026

Coming from a family of prominent political figures, Constanza Pena's display of her elite indifference struck a raw nerve among citizens already struggling under systemic economic inequality.

As the entire country of Paraguay was left with frozen savings accounts and uncertain economic futures, the shirt's provocative slogan was seen as a cruel mockery of the working class.

Netizens Slam Ex-Paraguayan President's Daughter Over Viral T-Shirt

Ex-Paraguayan President Santiago Pena's daughter Constanza's viral post with a controversial 'Tax the Poor' slogan sparked widespread criticism on social media, especially X (formerly Twitter), with several users accusing her of being insensitive to the financial struggles of ordinary Paraguayans.

Taking to X, several users criticised Constanza for wearing a 'Tax the Poor' shirt while millions of Paraguayans were reportedly struggling to access their savings, and others accused the political elite of remaining disconnected from the financial hardships faced by ordinary citizens.

Another section of users drew attention to the alleged use of public money by wealthy families to fund lifestyles abroad, while others questioned the timing of her post and its apparent message about taxation and class privilege.

@GeopolWonk It's the go-to thing in 2nd and 3rd world countries. The government officials loot all the money and send their children to 1st world countries and build their wealth there.

- Riazul Islam Rahil (@riazulrahil) November 6, 2026

@GeopolWonk“tax the poor” because that's the only way she makes money

- Lena López (@TrumpSimp4Putin) November 6, 2026

@GeopolWonk @Columbia Is this the type of people you want at your university??

- Sarah (@Sarah6MJ) November 6, 2026

@GeopolWonk damn. She's tone deaf despite living in America and NY at that

- Adejare (Jay) Atanda, DMD, DrPH, MPH (@jr_tnd) November 6, 2026

@GeopolWonk That's the kind of behaviour that ended Marie Antoinette RtPu (@PupRtd) November 6, 2026

@GeopolWonk If justice works at all in Paraguay, her father will be poor soon. Hope they are ready to pay taxes as poor people.

- Prothagoras (@leandroathudson) November 6, 2026

@GeopolWonk Maybe, just maybe, her shirt has more than just the surface meaning it appears to have for many of you.

- Subby5000 (@subby5000) November 7, 2026

@GeopolWonk I don't resent her stating her antipathy for the working class. She demonstrates the ruling class' determination to maintain its dominance over the exploited class. Workers need such truth in advertising to wake them up from their stupor.

- Luis Gonzalez (@LuisGon44141019) November 6, 2026

@MarioNawfal That's Nasty work. They all seem to be enrolled at #ColumbiaUniversity ‍♀️✔️

- Paris Sorel (@ParisSorel) November 7, 2026

@MarioNawfal Nothing says "we feel your pain" like a Columbia gym selfie. Peña was tied to Ueno's owners until 2025, and the bank was holding about $380m of the state pension fund's money.

- JM85Freedom (@JM85Freedom) November 6, 2026

@MarioNawfal They never joke about taxing the rich

- bokensha (@iambokensha) November 6, 2026

@MarioNawfal "May have been intended as a joke." It's easy to laugh when your $80k Columbia tuition is literally being paid by the stolen savings of those 3 million people standing outside the bank. She's not just out of touch, she's mocking the victims funding her lifestyle.

- Skeletor-666 (@onepunch_fan) November 6, 2026

@MarioNawfal While Paraguay's president faced a banking crisis that locked millions out of their savings, his daughter posted a gym selfie in a“Tax The Poor” shirt.

Bad timing, flipping the usual“tax the rich” line.

- The Bullion Duster (@VJLvEekhout) November 7, 2026

@jaimeraamos @MyLatinLife How tf do people find this funny after what just happened in their country?

- X (@Cris38648169) November 6, 2026

@jaimeraamos @MyLatinLife“It's easy to hate the rich, but do you have the courage to hate the poor?” - Unknown

- SaaS Animal (@atx_animal) November 6, 2026

@jaimeraamos She should look up the daughters of Nicholas Romanov II, because at this rate, shes about to get that same fate

- N-Sharrowkyn (@SharrowJtodd) November 6, 2026

@jaimeraamos Nothing says 'I understand the struggle' like a Tax The Poor shirt and a last name that probably never paid one

- Alex (@AlexKHC) November 6, 2026

@jaimeraamos That would be a major reversal, despite what the low IQ poors and middle class women seem to think.

- PEEZ (@peezytaughtme) November 6, 2026

Meanwhile, Constanza Pena made her Instagram account private after facing severe backlash and criticism for her post, while her father, Santiago Pena, is reportedly facing formal judicial proceedings and an ongoing anti-corruption investigation into his financial dealings.

Pena has been investigated for breach of trust, self-serving administration, and using public office for personal gain.

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