Latin America

The future of Peru, following the ousting of another president

Martín Vizcarra was suspended from office by Congress. More political turbulence is set to follow for Peruvian society in the near future

The future of Peru, following the ousting of another president
Martín Vizcarra. Photo: MBZ/Shutterstock

It would appear that becoming the President of Peru is a poison chalice, as scandal has fallen upon every single person who has held the office in the last three decades.

Former dictator Alberto Fujimori is serving a 25-year sentence for corruption and human rights abuses. Ollanta Humala and Pedro Pablo Kuczynski are currently under house arrest. Alejandro Toledo was arrested in the U.S. and released on bail. And Alan Garcia committed suicide when police arrived at his home to arrest him for corruption charges.

Martín Vizcarra now joins the club, after Congress ousted the president for “moral incapacity,” following allegations that he took kickbacks from construction companies while serving as governor of the southern region of Moquegua.

Congressional head Manuel Merino will now take the reins, leading the country until elections in April 2021. It will be anything but a straightforward task, as Peru grapples with a crippling economic downturn, one of the worst coronavirus death rates in the world, and a never-ending political crisis.

Mr. Vizcarra rose to power in 2018, after his predecessor...

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