Peru in crisis as president dissolves congress

Peru plunged further into crisis yesterday after the president dissolved congress in a spat over corruption and called elections, only to be suspended himself by angry lawmakers. Thousands of people poured into the streets of Lima and other major cities in a show of support for President Martin Vizcarra hours after he announced the shut-down. The heads of Peru’s armed forces and police reaffirmed their allegiance to the president, as did around a dozen regional governors who joined street celebrations celebrating the dissolution.

“There’s too much corruption. Too much of it without any shame. It’s high time this happened, that there’s a change,” said protester Jenny Sanchez in Lima, as demonstrators waved flags saying “New Peru”. In a televised address late Monday, Vizcarra announced he was dissolving the opposition-dominated congress after it blocked a raft of anti-corruption reforms, including the way judges are appointed to the Supreme Court. Opposition lawmakers accused Vizcarra of mounting a “coup d’etat”, voted to suspend him temporarily from the presidency and appointed Vice President Mercedes Araoz as leader instead.

“I will not run from my responsibilities, no matter how difficult the circumstances may be,” said Araoz, who had distanced herself from Vizcarra and described the dissolution as unconstitutional. Despite the heated stand-off, Peru went about its business as usual on Tuesday, with the only noticeable change being heightened security around the government palace and the congress.

Vizcarra called new legislative elections for January 26, according to a decree published in the official gazette. Under an electoral reform enacted last year, lawmakers cannot run for re-election. Until the new elections, legislative duties will fall to an 18-member congressional commission.