Paraguay Votes Sunday for 263 Mayors, Asunción in Focus
PREVIEW · PARAGUAY ELECTIONS 2026
Key Facts
- —The vote Paraguay elects mayors and municipal councils on Sunday 4 October 2026. Polls are open 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. local time: 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern Time, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. in Lisbon.
- —What is chosen 263 mayors (intendentes) and municipal councils in 263 districts. 5,043,154 voters are registered (TSJE).
- —The count The electoral court’s preliminary system, TREP, is expected to start near 5:30 p.m. local time (4:30 p.m. ET). Officials expect results from all districts by 8 p.m. local (7 p.m. ET) at the latest.
- —The contest In the 2021 municipal vote the ruling Colorado Party (ANR) won 163 mayoralties and the Liberal Party (PLRA) 62. The result is read as a test for President Santiago Peña before the 2028 national vote.
- —Four cities Asunción: Camilo Pérez (Colorado) leads the polls. Ciudad del Este: Colorado against the opposition mayor’s camp. Encarnación and San Lorenzo: Colorados face a united challenge.
- —Why Americans care Paraguay is the only South American country with ties to Taiwan, and it grew 4.0% in the second quarter (BCP). A Colorado sweep would signal continuity for Peña’s pro-Taiwan, pro-investment line.
Paraguay votes on Sunday in municipal elections that double as a test for President Santiago Peña and his Colorado Party. Polls open at 6 a.m. Eastern Time and close at 4 p.m. (7 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Paraguay). The electoral court, TSJE, expects its first preliminary figures from about 4:30 p.m. ET.
The vote picks 263 mayors and municipal councils. It does not change the national government. But the Colorados have ruled Paraguay for most of its modern history, and mayoral wins feed their machine ahead of the 2028 presidential vote.
For US readers, the questions are simple. Does the pro-Taiwan, investor-friendly ruling party keep its grip on local government? And do the opposition’s wins in places like Ciudad del Este signal a real challenge? Here is what to watch, in Eastern Time.
The timetable in Eastern Time
| Event | Paraguay | Eastern Time | Lisbon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polls open | 7 a.m. | 6 a.m. | 11 a.m. |
| Polls close | 5 p.m. | 4 p.m. | 9 p.m. |
| First TREP data expected | about 5:30 p.m. | about 4:30 p.m. | about 9:30 p.m. |
| Results from all districts expected by | 8 p.m. | 7 p.m. | Midnight |
Publishing exit polls and survey data is banned until one hour after the polls close. TREP is a preliminary, non-binding count. The electoral tribunals in each circuit do the official count and proclaim winners.
Asunción: the Colorado favourite
The capital is the biggest prize. Camilo Pérez, the Colorado candidate, faces Soledad Núñez, who leads an opposition alliance backed by the Liberals. Two September polls put Pérez well ahead. Ati Snead (11–16 September) gave him about 52.6% to 34.3%. Grau & Asociados (16–17 September) had 50.8% to 27.0%. Outlets that published them lean towards the ruling party, so treat the gaps with care.
Ciudad del Este: the opposition’s test
Ciudad del Este, on the Brazilian border, is a major border trading city. Daniel Mujica of the Yo Creo movement won the November 2025 by-election by 40 points after the removal of Miguel Prieto. Rigoberto Chamorro runs for the Colorados, on the team of Governor César “Landy” Torres. Prieto, removed from office in August 2025, predicted a historic Colorado defeat. No recent public poll was available to us.
Encarnación and San Lorenzo
In Encarnación, on the Argentine border, the Colorado candidate is deputy Sebastián “Cheba” Remesowski, who won his primary with 76%. His main rival is Carlos Pereira of the Alianza Encarnación en Marcha. In San Lorenzo, near Asunción, Felipe Salomón, Colorado mayor in 2021–2026, seeks to return against Luz Bella González, the Liberal chosen as the opposition’s consensus candidate.
What it means for 2028
Peña cannot run again, but his party’s machine wants to keep the presidency. A broad Colorado win would show strength. A loss in Ciudad del Este or other big towns would give the opposition a story about a challenge. Local races follow local logic, so municipal results do not translate directly into national votes.
The US view: Taiwan and the economy
Paraguay is the only South American state that recognises Taiwan, one of 12 governments worldwide that do, and ties date from 12 July 1957. Washington backs Taipei, so a stable pro-Taiwan government in Asunción suits US policy. Debate over opening trade with mainland China continues inside Paraguay.
The economy is growing, but more slowly. Paraguay’s central bank (BCP) reported 4.0% growth year on year in the second quarter, down from 7.3% in the first, and 5.7% for the first half.
What it means for you
Investors: expect continuity. Municipal races rarely move Paraguayan assets, but a surprise opposition run in big cities would shape the 2028 debate. Expats: foreign residents should expect police and crowds near polling places. Travellers: expect quiet streets and some restrictions on Sunday.
What is not known
We found no recent public polls for Ciudad del Este, Encarnación or San Lorenzo. We do not know turnout, how many opposition alliances will hold, or the exact time of the first TREP figures, which depend on how fast results arrive.
When do Paraguay’s polls open and close?
Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Paraguay time on Sunday 4 October. That is 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern Time. Anyone inside a polling place at closing time can still vote.
When will preliminary results be published?
TSJE’s preliminary system, TREP, is expected to start around 5:30 p.m. Paraguay time, or about 4:30 p.m. Eastern. TSJE expects results from all districts by 8 p.m. local (7 p.m. ET) at the latest. TREP is not official.
What is Paraguay voting for?
Voters elect 263 mayors and municipal councils among 5,043,154 registered voters. There is no presidential or congressional vote.
Who leads in Asunción?
Colorado candidate Camilo Pérez led two September polls by 18 to 24 points over opposition candidate Soledad Núñez. The outlets that published the polls lean towards the ruling party.
Why does the vote matter for the US?
The ruling Colorado Party backs Taiwan, and Paraguay is the only South American country with ties to Taipei. Results also show the strength of Peña’s party before the 2028 presidential election.
More: how Paraguay’s 4 October vote works, who is Santiago Peña and Paraguay in the Southern Cone. Latest: Paraguay news in English.
Sources
ABC Color (TREP timing); ABC Color (the elections in numbers); La Nación (Ati Snead poll); La Tribuna (Grau & Asociados poll); ABC Color (Ciudad del Este); ABC Color (Prieto); Infobae (municipal vote, 2021 results); La Nación (candidate list). Also: TSJE, Banco Central del Paraguay (second-quarter GDP, 25 September).
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief