MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Cabinet crisis sweeps support for Peruvian president

Peruvian president Alejandro Toledo's public opinion support plummeted following the cabinet crisis he created when naming a political ally to a key post, a move rejected by the rest of cabinet members.

A public opinion poll published Sunday in Peru's main newspaper El Comercio showed Mr Toledo's support crashing from 16 to less than 8% in a week, the lowest in his four years in office and when he's only eleven months from ending his term.

Last week Mr. Toledo named a controversial figure in Peruvian politics Fernando Olivera, head of a small political group which is crucial for the ruling coalition in Congress, as Foreign Affairs minister.

Immediately Chief cabinet minister Carlos Ferrero and Housing minister Carlos Bruce, the only two popular ministers in President Toledo administration resigned. Days before the two ministers had clashed with Mr. Olivera over his plan to legalize coca planting in the southeast of Peru. Mr. Olivera a former Ambassador in Spain is also inclined to use coarse and even foul language in debating and referring to his political enemies or adversaries, which is not accepted by the rest of the system.

The Sunday poll indicated that 90% of Peru's capital Lima residents were against the naming of Mr. Olivera and only 8% supported him.

On resigning after two days in the post Mr. Olivera claimed he was the victim of a "political assassination".

The poll also showed that 50% of interviews blame Toledo for the crisis, 30% Olivera and 5% Ferrero.

Outgoing Labour Minister Juan Sheput said the "cabinet crisis was over" and anticipated that President Toledo would name a cabinet in accordance with public opinion, "combining sufficient political independence as to guarantee transparency to the coming electoral process".

Presidential elections are scheduled for May/June 2006. Mr. Toledo will be handing office to his elected successor July 28 next year.

Carlos Ferrero, Carlos Bruce and Economy minister Pablo Kuczynki are forecasted not be confirmed in the new cabinet since all have presidential aspirations.

During his four years in office Mr. Toledo has ruled with limited initiative since he currently only holds 33 out of 120 Congress seats, and Mr. Olivera's seven from his Moralizing Independent Front were crucial on several votes.

President Toledo's administration, in spite of a good economic performance, has been rocked by scandal and corruption allegations which on more than one occasion had him on the verge of impeachment.