Paraguay President discharged after falling Ill at G20

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Paraguayan President Santiago Peña was discharged on Tuesday from a hospital in Rio de Janeiro, where he had spent the night after falling ill during the G20 summit, the hospital confirmed.

Peña, 46, was admitted to the Samaritano Hospital following reports of chest pains. Witnesses at the summit said he was taken from the venue by ambulance.

“The head of state was discharged early this morning and is free to continue his agenda,” the hospital said in a statement, adding that doctors had ruled out any heart issues or serious health conditions.

In a video released by the Paraguayan presidency, Peña assured viewers that he had recovered.

Health Minister María Teresa Barán stated that Peña’s test results were normal and that he was in good health, though he had been advised to rest.

While Paraguay is not a G20 member, Peña had been invited to the summit alongside other non-bloc leaders by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the host of this year’s meeting.

Before falling ill, Peña had been delivering a presentation to summit participants about Paraguay’s economic situation, focusing on poverty reduction.

In the video, a smiling Peña reflected on an emotional few days, mentioning his birthday on Saturday and Paraguay’s World Cup qualifier match against Bolivia.

“All these emotions somehow affected my mood,” Peña explained, adding that he now felt “strong” and ready to represent his country at the G20 summit’s conclusion on Tuesday.