Peru’s interim president resigned on Sunday as the nation plunged into its worst constitutional crisis in two decades following massive protests unleashed when Congress ousted the nation’s popular leader.
At least 27 people have been wounded in clashes between police and protesters as thousands of Peruvians took to the streets to demonstrate against the dismissal of President Martin Vizcarra, police and rights groups say.
Peru's interim President Manuel Merino called for calm on Thursday amid protests that have escalated around the country since the abrupt ouster of former leader Martin Vizcarra.
By Nicolás Monteverde
LIMA, Peru – With music, dance, and chants, several groups of protesters expressed their outrage against the president Martín Vizcarra's Impeachment on Monday in Lima. The mobilization started at 9 am in Plaza San Martín, the iconic park in the heart of Lima where protests often take place first.
The head of the Peruvian Congress, Manuel Merino, took office on Tuesday as the new president of the Andean country amid protests in the streets and market volatility, the day after the popular leader Martín Vizcarra was removed from office.
Peruvian lawmakers voted overwhelmingly Monday night to remove President Martín Vizcarra from office, expressing anger over his handling of the coronavirus pandemic and citing alleged but unproven corruption allegations.
Four South American countries joined forces this week in a bid to combat illegal fishing by huge Chinese fleets off their coasts. Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru threatened measures “to prevent, discourage and jointly confront” illegal fishing near their exclusive economic zones in the Pacific.
Canada’s Plateau Energy Metals has raised nearly US$ 600 million to develop Peru’s sole lithium project and expects to start mining in 2023, a year later than planned, as the country lags its neighbors in developing the battery mineral, a company official said.
Peru’s Congress approved on Monday a motion to initiate a process to remove President Martín Vizcarra from office over corruption allegations, a month and a half after he survived a prior impeachment trial.
The Inca citadel of Machu Picchu, the crown jewel of Peru's tourist sites, reopened on Sunday with an ancient ritual after a nearly eight-month lockdown due to the novel coronavirus pandemic.