Celeste Amarilla
Official portrait, 2023
Senator of Paraguay
Incumbent
Assumed office
30 June 2023
Deputy of Paraguay
In office
1 July 2018 – 30 June 2023
Constituency Asunción
Personal details
Born Celeste Josefina Amarilla Goitia
(1964-10-21) October 21, 1964 (age 61)
San Juan Bautista, Paraguay
Party Authentic Radical Liberal Party
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1988; died 2015)​
Children 1
Occupation
  • Lawyer
  • politician

Celeste Josefina Amarilla Goitia[a] (born 21 October 1964) is a Paraguayan lawyer and politician who has been serving as a senator since the 2023 general election. A native of San Juan Bautista in the department of Misiones, she represents the Authentic Radical Liberal Party (PLRA).

Early life

Amarilla received her education at the Collège de l'Immaculée Conception, a French primary and secondary school in Asunción.[1] In 1982, she enrolled in the Faculty of Law, Social Sciences, and Politics at the National University of Asunción (UNA), where she completed her first year of studies. She resumed her legal education in 2004 at the Universidad del Norte and earned her law degree in 2008. Additionally, she completed a postgraduate program in political science through the Rector's Office of the National University of Asunción (UNA).[2]

Career

Amarilla helped establish the Authentic Radical Liberal Party (PLRA) and its youth wing, Authentic Radical Liberal Youth [es] (JLRA) in 1982.[3] She participated in the party's Popular Mobilization for Change movement and held several public positions, including Director of Finance for the Municipality of Fernando de la Mora (1991–1995), president of the 28th Marshal Estigarribia Committee of Asunción (1995–1997), and Secretary of Childhood, Sports, and Social Action of the Central Department (1999–2003).[4]

Chamber of Deputies

Between 1 July 2018 and 30 June 2023, Amarilla served as a deputy representing the Capital district.[5][6] In 2020, she was suspended for 60 days from her parliamentary duties and salary, by a vote of the Chamber of Deputies, after she claimed that up to 70 deputies had bought their seats.[7]

Senate

In the general election held on 30 April 2023, she was elected to a five-year term in the Senate.[8][b]

In 2025 she, along with Ignacio Iramain Chilavert [es] and Eduardo Nakayama [es], attempted to initiate impeachment proceedings against fellow PLRA senator Noelia Cabrera, alleging nepotism based on newspaper reporting. In response the Cartismo faction of the party—of which Cabrera was a member—made counter accusation of nepotism based on a distant relative of Amarilla's being employed by the senate, which Amarilla described as libelous.[10]

Amarilla supported 2026 proposals to reform the Public Pension Fund, criticising the PLRA for its opposition, described the party as being in a state of "induced coma".[11] She caused some controversy when she called teachers opposed to the plan "donkeys and mediocre" and as responsible for the poor state of education.[12]

Kylian Mbappé remarks

In 2026, Amarilla was criticised for racist remarks made against French footballer Kylian Mbappé after France defeated Paraguay in a knock-out match during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.[13] She referenced multiple racial stereotypes in her later deleted comments, stating that the footballer was a "brute", illiterate, a colonised Cameroonian, and likened his intelligence to that of chimpanzees.[14]

Mbappé publicly condemned Amarilla as "despicable", later stating she did not represent Paraguay.[15] The French Football Federation and French public prosecutors launched an investigation into Amarilla, which she publicly rejected as gender-based violence.[1][16] The Paraguayan government, FIFA and the OHCHR publicly condemned Amarilla's comments, voicing support for Mbappé.[17][18]

Personal life

Amarilla was married to PLRA politician Franklin Boccia [es] from 1988 until his death in 2015.[19]

Notes

  1. ^ In this Hispanic American name, the first or paternal surname is Amarilla and the second or maternal family name is Goitia.
  2. ^ Paraguay's 45 senators are elected from a single national constituency using closed list proportional representation.[9]

References

  1. ^ a b "La respuesta de Celeste Amarilla a Kylian Mbappé: "El problema es entre vos y yo"" (in Spanish). ABC Color. 6 July 2026.
  2. ^ "Celeste Josefina Amarilla Vda. de Boccia" (in Spanish). SILpy.
  3. ^ "Celeste ⁠⁠Amarilla: The Paraguayan leader who triggered a diplomatic spat with racist remarks against Kylian Mbappe". FirstPost. July 7, 2026. Retrieved 7 July 2026.
  4. ^ "Celeste, polémica senadora sin pelos en la lengua" (in Spanish). Última Hora. 17 November 2024.
  5. ^ "Celeste Josefina Amarilla Vda. de Boccia". silpy.congreso.gov.py. Retrieved 6 July 2026.
  6. ^ "Pedido de sanción a Celeste Amarilla termina en gritos y silbidos de Bachi Núñez". Última Hora (in Spanish). 23 November 2022. Retrieved 6 July 2026.
  7. ^ "Suspenden a Celeste Amarilla por hablar de «dinero sucio» en la bancada de legisladores". NPY (in Spanish). 7 October 2020. Retrieved 6 July 2026.
  8. ^ "Estos son los 45 senadores electos para el periodo legislativa 2023–2028". ABC (in Spanish). 30 April 2023.
  9. ^ "Paraguay: Senate". PARLINE database. Inter-Parliamentary Union. Retrieved 6 July 2026.
  10. ^ "Celeste Amarilla dice que no cederá ante jugada cartista, pero pérdida de investidura de Cabrera es improbable - Política - ABC Color". ABC Color (in Spanish). August 6, 2025. Retrieved 7 July 2026.
  11. ^ "Celeste Amarilla califica de "perverso juego de extorsión" la postergación de la reforma de la Caja Fiscal". La Tribuna (in Spanish). 7 July 2026. Retrieved 7 July 2026.
  12. ^ "Celeste Amarilla tilda de "burros y mediocres" a docentes que rechazan cambios en la jubilación - El Nacional". El Nacional (in Spanish). January 27, 2026. Retrieved 7 July 2026.
  13. ^ "'A despicable woman': Kylian Mbappé hits out at Paraguayan senator over racist attack". The Guardian. Reuters. 6 July 2026.
  14. ^ Geiger, Chris (6 July 2026). "«Noix de coco», «chimpanzé»: une sénatrice se lâche contre Mbappé". 20 minutes (in French). Retrieved 6 July 2026.
  15. ^ Peter, Mike (6 July 2026). "Mbappe condemns racist posts from Paraguay senator". BBC Sport.
  16. ^ "Mbappé e FFF respondem aos ataques racistas de senadora paraguaia". OneFootball (in Brazilian Portuguese). 12 May 2026. Retrieved 6 July 2026.
  17. ^ Millar, Colin (2026-07-07). "Paraguay senator demands Kylian Mbappe 'apology' over his accusation of 'blatant racism'". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2026-07-07.
  18. ^ "L'ONU vole au secours de Kylian Mbappé après les insultes racistes d'une sénatrice paraguayenne". L'Équipe (in French). Retrieved 2026-07-08.
  19. ^ "Fallece Franklin Boccia, político liberal de lucha". Última Hora (in Spanish). 26 September 2015. Retrieved 6 July 2026.