A bill that seeks to curtail the discretionary power of heads of state to dissolve Parliament being able to dissolve Congress and call for new legislative elections has sparked controversy within Peruvian lawmakers.
The Peruvian government enacted a law that allows citizens a second withdrawal of funds from the private pension system in order to ease the economic blow from the coronavirus pandemic, according to the official newspaper El Peruano.
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.
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.
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.
Peru’s government, wary about the coronavirus pandemic despite a slowdown of new cases, has asked people to stay away from cemeteries for the important Day of the Dead celebration when millions usually pay respects to relatives who have died.
Peru resumed international flights on Monday that were suspended in March as part of emergency measures to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus. President Martin Vizcarra led the resumption of flights from the capital Lima's Jorge Chavez International Airport, saying health regulations were put in place to combat the risk of infections.